Atena Farghadani, young cartoonist who spent nearly two years in prison for criticizing government policies in her cartoons, released a new cartoon on August 22, 2016,
in which she lashed out on government’s conduct on the Week of Government. In a note accompanying the cartoon, Ms. Farghadani wrote:
I congratulate this week to all the statesmen!
I congratulate them on the increasing number of executions in Iran! I congratulate them because women have joined men and children in searching the trash for food!
My congratulations for the soaring rate of unemployment! Greetings on the large number of students who peddle on the streets and in metro stations! Greetings for the increasing number of child laborers! Congratulations for rising rate of crimes and violence in society and for the growing rate of drug addiction! Congratulations on the ongoing catastrophe in Qarchak Prison for women; congratulations for staggering high prices and inflation, for the rising rate of suicide, for the shutdown of factories, destruction of the private sector, and devastation of the country’s production and commerce! Congratulations for destruction of our ancient legacy, for unchecked imports, for destruction of the country’s agriculture, for exodus of students, investors and elites! And of course a special congratulations to you for your astronomical pay checks in return for all that you have done!