Letter From Ali Mahin-Torabi, Sentenced to Death at 16

A Letter From Ali Mahin Torabi, Child Prisoner Facing Execution

Mother, do not worry about me.  During the five years that I have been in prison, I have grown used to adversity.  Mother, do not shed any tears.  I have been destined to leave this world sooner than you had imagined.  Do not come here on the day of my execution, mother.  I can not tolerate the sound of you weeping.

By the way, have you been watering the plants in my room?  I am worried about my younger brother; please protect him well.  Tell dad that I love him with my entire existence and there are times that I miss his fatherly kisses. 

Take off my pictures from the walls.  Never look at those photos again.  By the way, mom, my color-pencil box is still in the desk drawer.  Please donate it to needy children.

Mom, do you remember that you wanted me to become a computer engineer?  You wanted me to become a groom one day, you wanted to see me grow up.  Mom, please forgive me that I was not with you, please forgive me for having become a child prisoner.  After my death, only pray for me.  Pray for Mazdak, too, even though I was not responsible for his death; the stabbing was entirely accidental.  Please apologize to Mazdak’s father, and tell him that at the time of the incident, I was only 16 years old, and I was no more than a child.  I did not know what I was doing. 

These are part of a statement by Ali Mahin Torabi.  Now 21 years old, Ali faces imminent execution for accidentally killing his classmate, Mazdak, during a scuffle in school when he was only 16 years old. 

To read the entire letter in FARSI, click HERE