04/06/2026
Born in late 60's Iran, she was witness to one of the most dramatic political turnovers of the century in her early years. Replacing one form of tyranny with another, came the Islamic Revolutionof 1979. Ayatollah Khomeini came to power when she was just ten. Satrapi dedicated her life in ensuring that the world never forgets what that meant for ordinary people, especially women.
Persepolis, her landmark autobiographical novel is a political testimony of her times seen through the intimate lens of a woman traversing her early life into adulthood in a turmoil filled Iran. She documented her life in Iran, coming of age in an era of theocratic rule, murders and forced disappearances of those dear to her, as well as all that was precious to her.
After arriving in France in the early 90s, she gained French citizenship after a few years. Although residing in the West, she never did away with politics as an active part of her life. Because of France's questionable and hypocritical foreign relations with Iran, Satrapi refused the Légion d'Honneur, which is one of the most prestigious honours bestowed by the state of France.
In 2022, after Mahsa Amini's brutal murder by the morality police of Iran, the women of Iran took to the streets with slogans of Zan Zendegi Azadi. Woman, Life, Freedom. Marjane Satrapi stood with them publicly and unequivocally.
Tyrannical regimes depend on silence and memory. Satrapi devoted her entire life to defeating all forms of tyranny by wielding her pen as a weapon.
AISA HCU pays respects to the fearless voice against theocracy, patriarchy, and regimes of tyranny everywhere.
