“We must send a strong signal” to Iranian women, says artist Marjane Satrapi

“When you talk to people, they say that when they are in danger and they see the international community supporting them, they feel enveloped and it gives them courage,” testifies Sunday, October 1 on franceinfo, Marjane Satrapi, Franco-Iranian author of comics. She calls, with other artists, for a big march this Sunday in Paris to support Iranian women. The protest does not weaken in Iran, after the death of Mahsa Amini, killed after being arrested for strands of hair which exceeded her veil. On Saturday, solidarity rallies took place in several cities around the world.

>> GREAT MAINTENANCE. Demonstrations in Iran: “We are facing a situation with enormous revolutionary potential”

For the artist, “we must therefore send a strong signal”. That’s why she asks “to come many even if it’s raining and it’s cold, you have to do it.” She recalls that the “French people have always been defenders of human rights and freedom”, so she asks “to the freedom-loving Parisians of [les] join at 3 p.m. Place de la République in Paris. Its very important.”

“Revolutions must come from within the country”; adds Marjane Satrapi and “Democracy comes from a democratic culture. The new generation [iranienne]to this culture.” The designer is convinced that “this movement is different from other movements” whom she knew in Iran.

“I witnessed the first uprising of women against the veil, in 1980, I was small. At the time, these women were not accompanied by men and were not supported by the left opposition Iranian woman who believed that the veil was a matter of social class struggle and that it did not interest them”.

Marjane Satrapi, Franco-Iranian artist

at franceinfo

She notes that the situation has changed: “There, we find ourselves with a new generation of people who have grown up with the internet. Iran in 1979 had 60% illiteracy, now they are less than 20%. Society has changed.” She says the new generation is thirsty for democracy : “They are absolutely not sexist, nor macho and they really want equality between men and women.”

Despite everything, Marjane Satrapi is worried: “If this movement does not lead to something, all these people who demonstrated with their faces uncovered or who expressed themselves on social networks will be arrested.” She fears that all this will end “in a bloodbath” because according to her, “there is no going back.”