In a distressing turn of events, renowned cartoonist and children’s rights activist, Atena Farghadani, was arrested on June 7, 2023, at Evin Courthouse in Tehran after being summoned for interrogation by District 33’s interrogation courthouse.
The news was confirmed by her attorney, Mohammad Moghimi, via a tweet, who expressed his ignorance about the reasons behind her arrest. former political prisoner, Farghadani, was compelled to halt her master’s degree studies due to her staunch commitment to activism. Following her arrest, she was relocated to Evin Prison, a facility that once served as her dwelling after a previous conviction.
Farghadani was first incarcerated in September 2014 for a period of 12 years and nine months for “insulting the leader (Khamenei).” This was in response to her cartoons depicting regime’s parliament members as animals, which she had shared on social media.
Although the sentence was ultimately reduced to 18 months by the Revision Court, the charges levelled against her included “conspiracy against national security,” “propaganda against the state,” and “insulting members of the parliament.”
Farghadani’s case became globally recognized during her first prison term, when she bravely disclosed the mistreatment and abuse that inmates endure.
These revelations, coupled with her initiation of a hunger strike and a subsequent heart attack, drew international attention and sparked the #Draw4Atena campaign.
This social media initiative saw the active participation of cartoonists worldwide, who showed their solidarity with Farghadani by sharing their works in her support. In addition, a letter demanding her release was issued to then-President Hassan Rouhani by over 75 international cartoonists and 40 non-governmental organizations.
The collective effort lauded Farghadani as a brave cartoonist and human rights activist, leading to her release on May 3, 2016.
The latest arrest of Atena Farghadani marks a disappointing recurrence of the Iranian authorities’ stringent approach towards freedom of speech and expression. It raises questions about the progress of human rights in the nation and calls for renewed global support to champion the cause of freedom for the artist.
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