Artist Marjane Satrapi refuses the Legion of Honor on account of “France’s hypocritical attitude towards Iran” | EUROtoday

It’s a refusal that dangers making noise. The Franco-Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi, who made herself identified worldwide with the sketch and the movie Persepolisintroduced, Monday January 13, “decline” the Legion of Honor.

Arriving in France in 1994, naturalized in 2006, the 55-year-old designer and director was promoted to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor in July 2024. A ornament that she determined to refuse due to her “principles” and its “attachment” to his “homeland of birth”she explains in a letter addressed to the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, revealed on Instagram.

“I cannot ignore what I perceive as a hypocritical attitude of France towards Iran”she provides, refuting every part ” contempt “ in direction of the establishment that distinguished her.

In a video posted just a few hours afterward the social community, the artist evokes a “a mark of solidarity with the Iranians, especially with women and with Iranian youth, but also with [ses] French compatriots held hostage in Iran ».

“Need for concrete actions”

“For a while, I have really struggled to understand France’s policy towards Iran”she continues, regretting that “Young freedom-loving Iranians, dissidents, artists are being refused visas”together with vacationers, whereas youngsters“Iranian oligarchs” se “walk around Paris as in Saint-Tropez without this posing any problem”.

According to her, “supporting the women’s revolution in Iran cannot be reduced to photos with victims or celebrities during the commemorations of the death of Mahsa Amini”a younger girl arrested for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict costume code and whose dying sparked an enormous protest motion in 2022.

“The Iranians do not need communication, we need concrete actions”argues Marjane Satrapi. “The refusal of the Legion of Honor is in no way an action or a thought against France. On the contrary, I deeply love this country that is mine”she insists, wishing “that France remains true to itself”.

“I will be honored when all the defenders of freedom are at my side”she concludes.

Contacted by Agence France-Presse, Marjane Satrapi defined that the presentation of her Legion of Honor was to happen in January. “When you have a people fighting for democracy (…) we must support him”she stated.