Violent Re-Arrest of Atena Forghadani, Artist and Cartoonist in Tehran

Hengaw: Sunday, April 14, 2024

Atena Faraghdani, an artist and cartoonist, has been re-arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tehran. This comes after her previous detention last year and a prior prison sentence. She has now been transferred to Gharchak Prison in Shahr-e Rey, Tehran Province.

According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, Atena Faraghdani, a cartoonist and children’s rights activist residing in Tehran, was violently arrested by security forces.

Her lawyer, Mohammad Moghimi, stated on his X account: ‘In protest against her arbitrary detention, she refused to accept the issued bail, resulting in her transfer to Shahr-e Rey (Gharchak) Prison.’

It’s worth noting that Atena Faraghdani was also detained on June 7, 2023, after being summoned to Branch 33 of Tehran’s Prosecutor’s Office.

In August 2014, she was previously arrested and sentenced to 12 years and 9 months in prison on charges of ‘insulting the Supreme Leader.’ Eventually, this sentence was reduced to 18 months upon reconsideration by the court.