Marjane Satrapi turns her award into a plea for freedom in Iran

Madrid. The Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi, who lives in Paris due to the persecution she suffers in her country, took advantage of the award of the prestigious Princess of Asturias Prize for Communication and Humanities 2024 to make a plea in favor of freedom and to remember the victims of the repression of the theocratic regime that forced her into exile. Iran is a terrorist statedenounced the creator from her forced exile, in addition to criticizing the authorities of the European Union for not including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

Filmmaker and historian Satrapi, creator of the graphic novel Persepolis, She was recognized with one of the most important recognitions of her career, after the members of the jury concluded that she is “an essential voice for the defense of human rights and freedom. Satrapi is a symbol of civic engagement led by women. Due to her audacity and artistic production, she is considered one of the most influential people in the dialogue between cultures and generations. The award wishes to highlight Marjane Satrapi’s talent for reinventing the relationships between art and communication, as in her graphic novel Persepolisin which he expresses in an exemplary way the search for a more just and inclusive world.”

Sing to freedom

The award helped him to put his country’s problems back on the international stage, by taking advantage of the forum that recognition gives him to celebrate the fierce struggle of my people for human rights and freedom. Today we honor all the young people who lost their lives and those who continue the fight for freedom in Iran. In addition, he dedicated his award to Toomaj Salehi, rap artist, sentenced to death a few days ago. for singing of freedom.

Later, in an appearance before the media from Paris, the artist explained that If there is an impact, if what I do helps, great, but in my country young people are killed and arrested every day… Our best rap singer, Toomaj Salehi, who did nothing but sing the truth, has been sentenced to death. So an impact, yes, but is it a real impact? Don’t know. A real impact would be to recognize this State as a terrorist State. Unfortunately, the Spanish Josep Borrell said no. So I take advantage of this award to tell Mr. Josep Borrell that Iran is carrying out five wars, such as in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. All these terrorist groups would not function without the help of Iran. What proof do they need for the Guardians of the Islamic Republic to be recognized as terrorists? I do my artistic work. It’s great that they give me awards and congratulate me, but if there are no actions behind it, after all, yes, I’m happy, but if they give you a humanities award, it has to lead somewhere. Because yes, a sculpture by Joan Miró is very good, but it is just a sculpture. The life of a man is always much more important and the life that young people give for freedom is always much more important.

The director of the Hay Festival of Segovia, María Sheila Cremaschi, was the one who presented the candidacy of the Iranian artist to the jury.

Today his work becomes, with terrifying relevance, a call for the care of the world’s democracies; a reflection on the human cost of wars and totalitarian regimes (both the Shah of Persia and the Islamic revolution)Cremaschi said.