Iran Detains Prominent Cartoonist Atena Farghadani, CPJ calls for Immediate Release

In what's seen as a continued crackdown on press freedom, Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani was recently detained under undisclosed charges, according to reports citing her lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi. Farghadani, known for her satirical political cartoons, was apprehended at Evin Prison in Tehran on June 7.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Iranian authorities to cease their ongoing efforts to stifle the press and called for the immediate release of Farghadani. The cartoonist has been under scrutiny from the authorities due to her political cartoons, regularly published on her Instagram account where she has amassed over 20,000 followers.

Farghadani's arrest occurred shortly after she posted a new cartoon, her first since February 2020, depicting individuals with animal and demonic faces. The reason behind her arrest and the possible charges remain unknown.

This isn't the first time the cartoonist has faced charges for her work. In 2015, she was handed a prison sentence of 12 years and nine months for her cartoon depicting Iranian parliament members as animals. The charge was "assembly and collusion against national security." However, she was released in May 2016, before completing her sentence.

Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, criticized the Iranian authorities' ongoing suppression of journalists and commentators. Mansour emphasized the need for the immediate and unconditional release of Farghadani. He referred to the recurring arrests as a "revolving door policy" that demonstrates Iran's disregard for the rule of law.

In her latest cartoon's caption, Farghadani made it clear that her artwork was a private endeavour, created in her home, and not associated with the Islamic Republic and its agents.

Farghadani has previously been honoured with the Courage in Editorial Cartooning award by Cartoonist Rights Network International in August 2015.

In recent months, Iranian authorities have arrested at least four journalists. According to the CPJ’s December 1, 2022, prison census, Iran was the world's leading jailer of journalists at the time. CPJ's 2015 special report, “Drawing the Line,” highlighted the frequent harassment of cartoonists whose satirical work often communicates complex political ideas, appealing to and resonating with a wide audience.

No response has been received by CPJ to the email sent to Iran's mission to the United Nations regarding the matter.