(Credit: Persion-Georg’s-Church)
Atena Farghadani, the Iranian artist and activist, has been sentenced to six years in prison in Iran. Multiple human rights organisations have condemned the move. Farghadani was arrested in April by agents from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard armed forces after she tried to put one of her drawings on display on the Pasteur Avenue wall in Tehran, which is where the presidential palace is located.
The sentence delivered couldn’t be any harsher, as was stated by her lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi, on X. “My client was sentenced to six years in prison by Branch 26 [of the court] on the charges of insulting holy [elements] and preaching against the regime,” he wrote, “Under the pretext of multiple crimes, this show court has delivered the harshest punishment in [relation to] the two mentioned charges.”
In an online statement, The Index on Censorship came to the aid of Farghadani, saying, “We are dismayed to learn that the activist, artist and cartoonist Atena Farghadani has been sentenced to a total of six years in prison…”
They continued, “The maximum penalties are indicative of the Iranian regime’s long-standing determination to persecute and silence this courageous rights defender.” The Index on Censorship has also called for Farghadani to be released immediately.
Human Rights groups have also defended the artist as Artists at Risk Connection and PEN America have vocalised their dismay, stating the sentences applied to Farghadani are a clear example of injustice. “Farghadani was initially taken [after her arrest] to a so-called safe house run by the Revolutionary Guard and was severely beaten. She became unconscious after being struck several times on her nose and head.”
Because of the brutal treatment she received while being detained, Farghadani refused to attend her trial at Branch 26. According to her lawyer, “Citing the court’s illegality and the lack of observance of justice and fair trial principles in the prosecution of political defendants.”
ARC, the human rights group, have expressed ongoing concerns about her safety while in jail “Given the abuse she has already suffered.” They further cite this as justification for the artist’s immediate release.
This isn’t the first time that Farghadani has been sentenced to jail time. In 2015, a court in Tehran sentenced her to 12 years behind bars after “Spreading propaganda against the system.” She was released a year later on appeal.
This is a developing story. It remains to be seen whether the pleas from human rights organisations and Farghadani’s appeal will be successful.
