Cartoonist Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Mocking Birth Control Bill
16th June 2015
Iranian artist and activist Atena Farghadani, who was charged with “insulting members of parliament through paintings” for a caricature she drew lampooning debate on a bill that would outlaw some forms of contraception, has reportedly been sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison.
Details out of Iran are still sketchy and few international media outlets have picked up the sentencing story as of this writing, but the Washington Post’s Michael Cavna discussed the case with representatives from Cartoonists Rights Network International, including board member and Iranian cartoonist in exile Nikahang Kowsar, who has first-hand experience with what Farghadani is going through now. Kowsar was imprisoned in 2000 for drawing a crocodile with a name similar to a powerful Ayatollah’s.
Just a reminder — if one is needed — that Freedom of Speech is NOT a Muslim value.