The newly crowned Princess of Asturias in Communication and Humanities 2024, Marjane Satrapi, thanked this Tuesday the award received for “her work for human rights and freedom” as only she could do: with freedom of speech. First she said: “If I become a symbol of dialogue and tolerance, If someone like me receives this award, the world must be going very wrong., because I am neither super nice, nor super tolerant nor am I 100% against violence. “So I say, damn, if I receive this type of award, things must be very bad.”
In a press conference via videoconference with a group of journalists, he spoke about Perspolis, his masterpiece “but not the only one”, he has denounced the situation in his country, he has talked about religion, feminism and he has handed out the occasional capon. She has pointed out that the award serves to continue denouncing what is happening in Irn, especially at the current moment. “Today more than ever it is necessary to speak. Words are nothing more than words, but there is no action or combat in the world that is done without words,” she noted.
Marjane Satrapi has shown off the fame he has, of not keeping quiet about anything, and has criticized Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, who indicated at the time that a court ruling was necessary to declare the Guardians of the Revolution in Iran a terrorist organization. The Iranian director has been clear: “The real impact of this award will come the day this State is recognized as a terrorist State. Borrell says no. But Iran is carrying out five wars in Iraq, Lebanon or Syria… These terrorist groups that operate there would not function without the help of Iran. What more evidence do you need to declare them terrorists?“, has said.
The Iranian Vietista and film director has insisted: “It is very good to have a sculpture of Mir [el premio fsico del Princesa de Asturias], but I have the feeling that I convince people who are already convinced. The sculpture is good but people’s lives are worth more,” she said, through the screen with her cigarette in her hand. “Public opinion is what forces politicians to make decisions. A politician is never going to go against public opinion (…) Sometimes I have compassion for politicians, although I am very angry with them. Josep Borrell, if I had him in front of me I would slap himbecause I think what he is doing is not right,” he added.
Regarding religion, he has criticized that “the problem is fanaticism, because people believe that they no longer have to think. Religion prevents people from thinking, because it tries to give answers instead of provoking questions. Therefore, it is not “a problem of religion, but of people who think and people who don’t,” he said.
He believes that “stupidity is everywhere”, for example “when Americans talk about the white race, the black race… when there is only one race, the human race.” He believes that a new cold war is underway and that now more than ever “it is important that this Europe is united. Iran is carrying out a terrorist war in five countries against its own population. What more is needed to recognize them as terrorists and remove all the ambassadors? It’s time”.
Regarding feminism and freedom, her fight over the last 24 years, she says: “The Iran of tomorrow is the Iran of women, and supported by men.” “I am not at war against men, but against patriarchal culture. In a patriarchal family the father is the one who has the last word, and that is why a dictator believes that he is the father of the nation and that he has the last word. For this reason, I believe patriarchal culture is the basis of dictatorship.”
Satrapiagain without filters, has recognized the “terrible stress” that it generatesto her who hates having her photos taken, seeing herself collecting the award, surrounded by spotlights and flashes shooting up. “I do it because I have to continue and I think it serves a purpose,” she said.