Marjane Satrapi Rejects French Legion d’Honneur Over Iran ‘Hypocrisy’

Marjane Satrapi, the celebrated French-Iranian author and illustrator of the graphic novel Persepolis, has declined the French Legion d’Honneur, citing France’s “hypocritical” stance towards Iran. Satrapi, known for her outspoken criticism of Iran’s Islamic regime, announced her decision in a letter to France’s culture minister and a detailed Instagram post.

Satrapi, 55, expressed her refusal of France’s highest civilian award, which was to be conferred at a ceremony later this month. In her letter, she stated:

“I can’t ignore what I see as a hypocritical attitude towards Iran, which forged the other part of my identity.”

She criticized France’s visa policies, pointing out how they restrict young Iranian dissidents while granting access to children of regime oligarchs for leisure and naturalization.

Satrapi arrived in France in 1994 and became a French citizen in 2006. She has been a consistent advocate for democracy and human rights in Iran.

In her statements, she urged stronger support for those fighting for democracy, stating, “When you have people who are fighting for democracy… you need to support them.”

Satrapi’s Persepolis recounts her life under the oppressive Iranian regime after the 1979 revolution and her eventual exile in Europe. The work, both in book and film form, has become a global symbol of resistance and the struggle for freedom.