top of page
A warm thank you to all the death row prisoners and their pen friends who have accepted to participate to this exhibition, as well as to the organisations supporting them through their active commitment and correspondence, including:
Lifelines, Human Writes, Lifespark, WriteAPrisoner, Angels in Envelopes,
European Association for Human Rights, Lutte Pour la Justice, ACAT France, Solitary Watch,
Community Of Sant'Egidio and others.
You can have a get a glimpse of the exhibition on the slideshow below OR
Watch the whole exhibition and testimonials by clicking on the orange arrow right here
 Mike & Jan, Karen and friendsMike has already just been appointed a counsel for clemency. Whatever Mike may have done or not done, his friends, including Jan, the founder of the oldest pen pal organisation in Europe, are desperately hoping that he will be given a full clemency review. |  Gwendoline & JamesWhen she was 13, Gwendoline's English teacher proposed to the pupils a correspondence with James to learn english. With time, James became the one who was able to ensure the job of father when her own father, alcoholic, was abandoning his family. Today, James has become a lifetime friend. |  Chris & HectorChris lives in Hong Kong, Hector is El Salvadorian, on death row in the US. They have found out similarities in their lives. A few years ago, Chris lost his job, and went to trial. He won, got a second chance. He says: Nothing is how it seems to other people. I don't judge Hector -- it's more like I feel his pain. |
|---|---|---|
 Lottie & ElijahElijah writes beautiful poems. He corresponds with Lottie, whose experience with the mental illness of family members made her realize that many times people make horrible mistakes in life because of mitigating factors and not because they are horrible people. |  Lynne & T.Lynne is a single Mum. She had always been quite judgemental of single parents but when it happened to her, it completely shifted her sense of reality. She developed a deeper understanding that people find themselves in situations they didn’t plan - Yet, that magical things, such as her son Theo, can happen. She has been writing to T. for 18 months. |  Becky & ThomasBecky and her friend Thomas share a common sensitivity for the arts. They have chosen to participate to this exhibition by sharing some of the nicest drawings Thomas sends to his friend in the free world. |
 Sophie & TahuaSophie and Tahua have been writing each other for nearly three years. Tahua says: "She has saved my humanity". Sophie says: I see our friendship as a forever thing - till one of us breathes our last breathe. Tahua is a part of me and I love him like a member of my family. |  Aline, Charles & JohnAline had three pen friends on death row. One died sadly a month after his release. Today, she keeps writing to Charles and John in Texas, both of whom express their gratitude for her friendship. (Short statements) |  Anne & Ker'yAnne is a retired teacher and started to write to Ker'y at age 63. Anne has had an unfortunate childhood, involving sexual abuse. Ker'y, himself on death row, is a child born of a rape. |
 Larry & PamLarry fights for his life and others on death row. He experiences frequent episodes of claustrophobia. Fortunately, he has Pam, 70, his"adopted aunt" in the UK. |  Marge, Linda & Mark StrömanMarge was an elderly British lady, who did not survive the execution of her friend Mark Ströman in 2011. She died of a heart attack 8 weeks and one day after his execution. She was his "little rose". Read moving testimony of her daughter Linda, and the words of Mark Ströman before his execution. |  Wynn & GeraldWynn writes to Gerald, a self-taught artist, and a former foster child. She is happy to have him in her life. (Short statements). |
 Julie and Rodney, TexasRodney is at the last stage of his appeals in front of the US Supreme Court. Caitlin, suffering from a terminal illness, wrote about Rodney until her last breath; Julie keeps fighting to help save his life. |  Danièle, René and Rickey LewisDanièle and René are in a spiritual approach to life. They had been designed by Rickey, their mentally handycapped pen friend, as his "adoptive parents". He called them Mom and Dad. They attended his execution on April 9th, 2013. Together they have walked religiously towards hope, which they say it never dies. |  Anthony & FriendsAnthony says he has found a family of adoption with his French friends and supporters around the world. He has inspired his friend Pascal to produce art pieces with his portrait. They all nourrish one crazy hope: To see Anthony be freed one day, so that he can help others. |
 James & Solitary WatchJames is the co-editor of Solitary Watch, the first centralized source of unfolding news, original reporting, firsthand accounts, and background research on solitary confinement in the United States -- "Another death penalty". He receives hundreds of letters from prisoners. |  MessageIn the name of all the pen pals around the world, please don't execute our friends. |
Just think about men, sometimes innocent, whose only life perspective is death or prison for life; with a simple letter or a card, you can show them that they are still human beings, and that you are standing by them.
Thank you."
Robert Badinter
(Speech given at the Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Paris, 10 Octobre 2014)
bottom of page