Atena Farghadani went on trial in Iran. What were her crimes? According to Amnesty International, they include “spreading propaganda against the system” and “insulting members of parliament through paintings.”
In August, she was arrested and eventually taken to Gharchak prison. She was released later but was rearrested after she posted a video online that described beatings from prison guards. Since January, she has been held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. In February, she had to be hospitalized after she spent three weeks on hunger strike and suffered a heart attack.
Farghadani is just one of a number of cartoonists around the world who have faced legal problems for criticizing or mocking politicians. (Washington post – May 19, 2015)
Iranian painter and women’s rights activist on trial for insulting MPs
An Iranian painter and women’s rights campaigner is on trial in Tehran on charges of spreading propaganda against the ruling establishment.
Atena Farghadani, who has spoken out against parliamentary plans to restrict access to contraception, appeared in court on Tuesday in connection with her activism as well as her art. (Guardian – May 19, 2015)
Iranian artist goes on trial for cartoon mocking draft law
An artist and political activist has gone on trial in Iran for a cartoon criticizing draft laws which would restrict access to birth control.
Ms Farghadani, 28, faces charges of spreading propaganda, insulting MPs, and insulting the supreme leader.
An Iran researcher for Amnesty International, told the BBC, “We are very concerned that Atena has even been put on trial. She is a prisoner of conscience and she has been held solely because of her opinions and for exercising the right to free expression. From our point of view, she must be released immediately and unconditionally.”
(BBC – May 19, 2015)
