ij 7 T TTT tT? ?f fT f OF PERSEPOLTS UA UDCREDITS ‘Translation of first part: Mattias Ripa ‘Translation of second part: Blake Ferris Supervision of translation: Marjane Satrapi and Carol Bernstein Lettering: Eve Deluze Additional hand lettering: Céline Merrien THANKS TO LAssociation David B. Jean-Christophe Menu Emile Bravo Christophe Blain Guillaume Dumora Fanny Dalle-Rive Nicolas Leroy Matthieu Wahiche Charlotte MiquelINTRODUCTION n the second millennium B.C., while the Elam nation was developing a civilization alongside Babylon, Indo-European invaders gave their name to the immense Iranian plateau where they settled. The word “Iran” was derived from “Ayryana Vaejo;” which means “the origin of the Aryans” These people were semi-nomads whose descendants were the Medes and the Persians. The Medes founded the first Iranian nation in the seventh century B.C.; it was later destroyed by Cyrus the Great. He established what became one of the largest empires of the ancient world, the Persian Empire, in the sixth century B.C. Iran was referred to as Persia — its Greek name — until 1935 when Reza Shah, the father of the last Shah of Iran, asked everyone to call the country Iran. Iran was rich. Because of its wealth and its geographic location, it invited attacks: From Alexander the Great, from its Arab neighbors to the west, from Turkish and Mongolian conquerors, Iran was often subject to foreign domination. Yet the Persian language and culture withstood these invasions. The invaders assimilated into this strong culture, and in some ways they became Iranians themselves. In the twentieth century, Iran entered a new phase. Reza Shah decid- ed to modernize and westernize the country, but meanwhile a fresh source of wealth was discovered: oil. And with the oil came another inva- sion. The West, particularly Great Britain, wielded a strong influence on the Iranian economy. During the Second World War, the British, Soviets, and Americans asked Reza Shah to ally himself with them against Germany. But Reza Shah, who sympathized with the Germans, declared Iran a neutral zone. So the Allies invaded and occupied Iran. Reza Shah was sent into exile and was succeeded by his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was known simply as the Shah.In 1951, Mohammed Mossadeq, then prime minister of Iran, national- ized the oil industry. In retaliation, Great Britain organized an embargo on all exports of oil from Iran. In 1953, the CIA, with the help of British intelligence, organized a coup against him. Mossadeq was overthrown and the Shah, who had earlier escaped from the country, returned to power. The Shah stayed on the throne until 1979, when he fled Iran to escape the Islamic revolution. Since then, this old and great civilization has been discussed mostly in connection with fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism. As an Iranian who has lived more than half of my life in Iran, I know that this image is far from the truth. This is why writing Persepolis was so important to me. I believe that an entire nation should not be judged by the wrongdoings of a few extremists. I also don’t want those Iranians who lost their lives in prisons defending freedom, who died in the war against Iraq, who suf- fered under various repressive regimes, or who were forced to leave their families and flee their homeland to be forgotten. One can forgive but one should never forget. Marjane Satrapi Paris, September 2002PERSEPOLIS . y C4 = - xTHIS IS ME WHEN | WAS 10 YEARS OLD. THIS Was IN 4980, ‘AND THIS IS A CLASG PHOTO. I'M SITTING ON THE FAR LEFT 50 YOU DON'T SEE ME. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: GOLNAZ, MAHSHID, MARINE, MINNA, THEN CAME 4820: THE YEAR IT BECAME. QBLIGATORY TO WEAR THE VEIL AT SCHOOL. Sy, OOH Fa THE donster oF} DARKNESS, = aWHERE BOYS AND GIRLS WERE TOGETHER. “AND ALSO BECAUSE THE YEAR BEFORE, IN 4929, WE WERE INA FRENCH NON-RELIGIOUS SCHOOL. ‘ND THEN SUDDENLY IN 4990.0 Aa oes 32 perAT ONE OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS, A GERMAN LY PROUD OF HER, HER JOURNALIST TOOK A PHOTO OF MY MOTHER HE EUROPEAN NEWSPAPERS. A| REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT THE | | EWAS BORN WITH RELIGION. Vell. DEEP DOWN | WAS VERY RELIGIOUS BUT AS a FAMILY WE WERE VERY MODERN AND AVANT-GARDE. BECAUSE MY FATHER AND, ABOVE ALL, BECAUSE HAD A CADILLAC. MY GRANDMOTHERS KNEES ALWAYS ACHED. COME HERE MARST HELP ME TO STAND UP, DONT WORRY. 00 WONT ave any MRE PAN. VOUU SEE.UKE ALL MY PREDECESSORS THE FIRST THREE RULES CAME FROM ZARATHUSTRA. HE WAS THAD AY HOLY BOOK THE FIRST PROPHET IN MY COUNTRY BEFORE THE ARAB INVASION, YOU MUST BASE EVERYTHING ON GEFORE THE PERSIAN NEW YEAR, NOROUZ, ON MARCH 2457, THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING ONLY MY GRANDMOTHER KNEW ABOUT MY BOOK, RULE NUMBER IK: EVERY- BODY SHOULD HAVE A CAR, RULE NUMBER SEVEN: ALL MAID SHOUD RE WOME Eat OULD PER” ‘SEN SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER. ys eur FELL mE How VOL ARR CG FOR. 4p PEOPLE NOT TO SUFF Ange eetEVERY NIGHT | HAD 4 BIG DISCUSSION WITH GOD. YES YOU ARE, ef i EeSTIAL Lt, GE, GINS NE. “YOU ARE MY SOME MORE TIME, CHOICE, M¥ LAST TAMA Nor QUITE age oa ee EADY VET. eee YooR CHD DISTURBED. SHE WANTS TO BECOME A PROPHET.E THE YEAR OF THE REVOLUTION t HAD TO TAKE ACTION, $0 | PUT MY PROPHETIC DESTINY ASIDE FOR A WHILE. TODAY MY NAME IS CHE GUEVARA, ANP I WANT TO 8& TROTSKY. y an 4 WE DEMONGTRATED IN THE GARDEN OF OUR HOUSE. MN SS) L THE REVOLUTION 15 NAD: ©: a LS Cm) ie anced bowtr | Cares 5 TORN, IT FALLS.“AFTER A LONG SLEEP OF 2500 YEARS, THE REVOLUTION HAS FINALLY AWAKENED THE PEOPLE.” FIRST OUR OWN EMPERORS. Ses.. S>. Se. S. Se>.. >. =. S*. Ses.. Ss. =, Sa B=. THEN THE ARAB INVASION FROM THE WEST,LKNEW EVERYTHING A80UT ABOUT FIDEL CASTRO, | THE CHILDREN OF PALESTINE. TO ENLIGHTEN ME HEY BOUGHT G00 BUT MY FAVORITE WAS A COMIC 800K ENTITLED] MDIALEETIC MATERIALISM.” a2‘YoU MEAN THAT EVEN THOUGH OuCH! WHAT ane YOU SEE THIS STONE IN AAY HAND YOU DOING, KARL, YOU IT DOESN'T EXIST SINCE IT’S ONLY BROKE Ai¥ SKU! IN YOUR IMAGINATION? gE CPap ceo ee oe ky PS CAROL Sra ena rsa ened sna) AR aa Sn eS PCa man ana TEMORROU THe WEATHER IS $0 YOU DON'T WANT TO. onan WE ADRODIET ANYMORE?| A 3 z= TOU you ro TAL ABUT SOMETHING ELSE. %ZA A Uf EL; : be Oe) y, CY aIerZ 2 h Fy 4sFOR f 4 REVOLUTION HE ENTIRE POPL ss0ST SUPPCF To succeeD, ULATION ae IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. ‘THEY SHOOT PEOPLE! an ve anee — ___—SOTHE WATER ae eae MY PARENTS DEMONSTRATED EVERY DAY, DOWN WITH THINGS STARTED TO DEGENERATE. ITHE ARMY SHOT AT THEM. \3 oe 1 Re cto?‘COME SIT ON MY LAP, TUL TRY TO EXPLAIN ‘AS FOR IME, | LOVE THE KING, HE WAS CHOSEN BY GoD. #) SELES Va QUR SCHOOLBDOK., THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY. L@ THE TRUTH IS THAT $0 YEARS AGO THE FATHER OF THE SHAM, WHO WAS A SOLDIER, ORGANIZED 0 | 2uTScH TO OVERTHROW THE EMPEROR AND INSTALL A REPUBLIC. IF IT 1S G0b"S wilt, GOD 1S WITH US. WE WILL REACH THE CAPITAL 49 DANS, <> | AND EVEN IF @ HE ISN'T, WHat CaN STOP US? 49AT THE TIME THE REPUBL [rea ee eee eR a nt road eT ein cece veneer | IDEAL WAS POPULAR IN THE REGION BUT EVERYBODY INTERPRETED IT 'N [rea ee eee eR a nt road eT ein cece veneer | OWN wa) EEN Let Maron N TORCEY THE HINDUS AND THE MUSLIMS. MUST MAKE PEACE TO OVERTHROW THE BRITISH. WE, THE TURKS, ARE SECULAR WESTERNERS, FOR PROOF, LOCK AT MY GREEN EYES Iso THE FATHER OF THE SHAH BUT HE WASN'T = NOR WAS HE A WANTED 0 BO THE SAME. EDUCATED LIKE GANDHI, LEADER OF MEN WHO WAS A LAWYER... UKE ATATURK, WHO WAS A GENERAL HE WAS AN ILATERATE LOW-RANIING A BLESSING FOR THE VERY INFLUENTIAL BRITISH WHO SOON aie LEARNED OF HIS PROTECTS. WHAT'S THAT Sou- DIER’S NAME AGAIN? REZANWE SHOULD) 0 EET HOM, IpneDiareny! PERSIA 1S FUUL OF lL! 20WHEN YOU ARE EMPERCR, EMPEROR, ME? YOUR SECRETARY OF STATE. WILL SHINE THE/A FOR YOU, /ANT TO CREATE ‘A REPUBLIC. THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS. ARE AGAINST IT AND THEY'RE RIGHT, A VAST COUNTRY LIKE YOURS NEEDS A HOLY SYMBOL, Yoo Tost GINE OS THE THe REST. 2A YOU Wikb HAVE EVERVTHING Power, SHOE SHINER. SNYTHING YOU WANT IN CASH! ai( ’ i | V7, aS (4GRANDPA WAS A YOUNG MAN AND THE FATHER OF THE SHAH CONFIS CATED EVERY- THING HE OWNED. ‘ND SINCE HIS ENTOURAGE WAS UNEDUCATED, YOUR GRANDPA WAS NAMED PRIME MINISTER. A OF TODAY YOU ARE iY PRIME MISTER DON'T FORGET THE THES IN THE BATHROOM. GO RIGHT AHEAD, DON'T LET ANY- THING STOP YOU. [He HAD STUDIED IN EUROPE. HE WAS & VERY CULTIVATED MAN, HE HAD EVEN READ MARK THE WORKERS! HOW GAN He BELIEVE THAT THE RABBLE CAN RULES. ‘ONCE HE WAS SIDETRACKED FROM His PRINCELY DESTINY, HE BEGAN TO MEET INTELLECTUALS. THE BOLSHEVIKS MAKE MIRACLES. THE EMPEROR OF PERSIA IS NOT REZA SHOM BUT THE KING OF ENGLAAD. $0 HE BECAME 4 COMMUNIST. WHEN | WAS PRINCE, ALL OF THIS SEEMED $0 DISTANT. IT DISGUSTS Mé THAT PEOPLE ARE CONDEMNED TO A BLEAK FUTURE BY THEIR SOCIAL CLASS. ee eee LONG LIVE LENIN. THE PROBLEM OF OUR COUNTRY: ONLY A PRINCE CAN ALLOW HIMSELF TO HAVE & CONSCIENCE. wwTL EVERY TIME THERE WAS & KNOCK ON THE DOOR | THOUGHT TREMEMBER WHEN | THEY WERE COMING TO TAKE MY FATHER TO PRISON. WAS A SMALL GIRL. HELLO! IS YOUR DADDY, * $T0P IT, MOTHER THERE? I HE IS TIRED. . ES 5 2HTHE POOR ANAM!" PRISON HAD DESTROYED His HEALTH. HE HAD RHEUMATISM. GiovyaPl We CAN PLAY AFTER YOUR DO YOU WANT TO BATH IF YOU WANT TO, PLAY MONOPOLY? MY HANDS WERE WRINIKLED WHEN | CAME OUT, LIKE GRANDPA’S. THAT NIGHT | STAYED & VERY LONG TIME IN THE BATH, | WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE IM A CELL FILLED WITH WATER, 2shat) al ob Ui, GO AND LOOK IN THE) GUEST ROOM. THERE'S A SURPRISE FOR YOU. THE SHAH'S FATHER TOOK EVERYTHING WE OWNED. LIVED IN POVERTY. _ WHAT? YOU MEAN YoU Weke POOR TOO? (OH, YES. $0 POOR THAT WE HAD ONLY BREAD TO EAT. WAS 50 ASHAMED THAT | PRETENDED TO COOK, SG THAT THE NEIGHBORS WOULDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING, MMM! NOM 15 COOKING SOMETHING GooD! 26TO SURVIE | TOOK IN SEWING AND WITH LEFTOVER MATERIAL, | MADE CLOTHES FoR THE WHOLE FAMILY. WHY ISN'T GRANDPA. LOOK HOW WELL DRESSED eee / We ALL ARE IN THIS PHOTO. tERE? WAS HE Ve PRISON VES, THE FATHER OF THE SHadl Wes VERY TOUGH BUT HIS YOU KNOW, AMY CHILD, SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME, DYNASTIES HANE SUCCEEDED EACH OTHER BUT THE KINGS ALWAYS KEPT THEIR, PROMISES. THE SHAH KEPT NONE, | REMEMBER THE DAY HE WAS CROWNED. HE SAID: LAM THE LIGHT OF THE ARVANS. I WICL MAKE THIS COUNTRY THE MOST MODERN OF ALL TIME ‘OUR PEOPLE WILL REGAIN THEIR SPLENDOR, 2HE EVEN WENT TO THE GRAVE OF CYRUS THE GREAT, WHO RULED OVER THE ANCIENT WORLD. ALL THE COUNTRY’S MONEY WENT INTO RIDICULOUS CELEGRA- TIONS OF THE 2500 YEARS OF DYNASTY BND OTHER FRINQLITIES.. ALL OF THIS TO IMPRESS HEADS OF STATE; THE POPULATION. COULON'T HAVE CARED LESS.MY FATHER HAD GONE TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS OF THE DEMONSTRATION UT THIS TIME HE WAS VERY LATE, HE TOOK PHOTOS EVERY DAY. IT WAS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. HE HAD EVEN BEEN ARRESTED ONCE BUT ESCAPED AT THE LAST MINUTEPEOPLE CAME OUT CARRYING THE BODY OF & YOUNG MAN KILLED BY THE ARMY, HE WAS HONORED LIKE A MARTYR. 4 CROWD GATHERED TO TAKE HIM TO THE BAHESHTE ZAHRA CEMETERY. TOpAY | WENT TO REY HOSPITAL WITH MY CAMERA, THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER CADAVER, AN OLD MAN CARRIED OUT ON A STRETCHER. THOSE WHO DIDN'T FOLLOW THE FIRST ONE WENT OVER TO THE OLD MAN, SHOUTING REVOLUTIONARY SLOGANS AND CALLING HIM A HERO, WELL, | WAS TAKING MY PHOTOS WHENIT NOTICED) AN Gob WOMAN NEKT TO ME, I UNDERSTOO? WHAT? WHAT IS IT? THAT SHE WAS THE WIDOW OF THE VICTIM. | a0) SEEN HER LEAVE THE HOSPITAL WITH THE BODY. ‘STOP IT! NO, BUT MY 2 > HUSBAND Dieb PLEASE! P we eee OF CANCER. stor iri STOP IT! a4VD NEVER READ AS puch AS | | My FAVORITE AUTHOR WAS ALI ASHRAF DARVISHIAN, A KIND OF LID DURING THAT PERIOD. LOCAL CHARLES DICKENS. I WENT T@ HIS CLANDESTINE BO0K-SIGNING WITH MAY MOTHER. HE TOLD sap euT TRUE STORIES: REFA BECAME A PORTER AT THE AGE OF TEN LEILA WOVE CARPETS AT AGE Five. : a se! i Hassan, THREE YEARS 01D, CLEANED CAR WINDOWS, cS) RS) FELT ASHAMED TO SIT IN MY é D BUT NOW THAT I RIS CADILLAC ks THINK OF IT. we HAN THE Soone: THE : A MAID AT HOME BETWEEN 50¢ 3THIS 1S MEHRI. SHE Was JUST TEN YEARS OLD WHEN 1 WAS BORN.SHE TOOK CARE OF ME. SHE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD WHEN SHE HAD TO LEAVE HER PARENTS! HOME TO COME TO WORK FOR US, JUST LIKE REZA, LEILA AND HASSAN ine HAVE TOO MANY CHILDREN Ae ORAS INCLUDING HER. He Wilt EAT WELL ‘AT YOUR HOUSE. WE WILL TAKE 7 eH CARE OF HER, Loti “2 BND SHE ALWAYS FINISHED MY FOOD. AN IT CAME. CLOSER! AND IT Came Closer! 34AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RENOLUTION, IN 4978, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE NEIGHEOR'S SON. SHE WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OLD. Foo” Pe (CAN YOU HELP ME Lace may SHOES? MY DEAR HOSSEIN, IMISS YOU A LOT. IT HAS BEEN THee€. DAYS SINCE 1 SAW You AT THE WINDOW. 1 OFTEN TALK ABOUT YOU TO MY SISTER. EVERY NIGHT THEY LOOKED| [UNTIL THE DAY HE. AT EACH OTHER FROM THE| | SLIPPED Hee A LETTER. WINDOW OF MY ROOM. ‘I AY MOTHER HAD TRIED TO TEACH HER 6UT APPORENTLY SHE WAS NOT VERY TALENTED, SO LETS REPEAT. MAS IMs a‘MEHRI HAD A REAL SISTER, ONE YEAR YOUNGER, WHO WORKED aT MY UNCLE'S HOUSE. YOU KNOW, [HAVE A FIANCE, (oH REALLY, WHO? RF AFTER A FEW VISITS, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM TOO, 1s HINCIN FRONT OF THE TV. ISNT HE HANDSOME? HER TEALOUSY WAS MORE THAN SHE COULD BEAR AND SHE TOLD MEHRI'S STORY TO MY UNCLE, WHO TOU IT TO MY GRANDMA, WHO TOLD IT TO MY MOM, THAT IS HOW THE STORY REACHED MY FATHER. NEIGHEOR, TL WwoutD Like To Have a Few] WORDS WITH SOUR SON OK, UL GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT: | KNOW THAT MERI PRETENDS SHE 1S py DAUGH- TER. IN REALITY SHE IS MY MAID. 36WITHOUT ANY HESITATION, HOSSEIN GAVE ALL THE LETTERS HE HAD RECEIVED TO MY FATHER! reLL Me wat THESE ARE! @UT IS IT HER FAULT THAT SHE WAS BORN] WHERE SHE Wes BORN??? YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR LOVE WAS IMPOSSIBLE YOU MUST STAY WITHIN YOUR OWN SOCIAL CLASS. WHEN | WENT @ACK TO HER ROOM SHE WAS: Serr ARE YOU. CRYING. WE WERE NOT IN THE SAME SOCIAL CLASS} FOR OR AGAINST ERR Oe AGAINST, Ml [CUT AT LEAST WE WERE IN THE SAME BED. 33WHEN | FINALLY UNDERSTOOD 50 THE NEXT DAY., THE REASONS FOR THE REVO- LUTION | MADE MY DECISION. MEHRY, DON’T FORGET TS COOK HER SOME CHICKEN) § éhte aK ui aed \GBighgVgAgqed Perrier t Pee PoP ry por Pees Pe Meshes THE SHAH'S REIGN WAS AtFOR A FEW MONTHS, HE ACTUALLY DID TRV: HE TESTED A DOZEN PRIME MINISTERS. YOU REMIND ‘4 FREE MASON? | [ YOU. THE MORE HE TRIED DEMOCRACY, THE MORE HIS STATUES WERE TORN DOWN. POLL A LITTLE MORE TO THE LEFT. a4a2TIMMY CARTER, THE PRESIDENT ‘OF THe UNITED STATES, REFUSED TO GIVE REEUGE TO THE exiled SHAH AND HIS FAMILY. IT LOOKS LIKE CARTER! IT'S ANWAR AL-SADAT WHO HAs FORGOTTEN Wie ACCEPT HM IN HIS COUNTRY, HIS FRIENDS. al THeT INTERESTS Hin 1s OW! IN ANY CASE, AS LONG, AS THERE IS OIL IN THE MIDDLE EAST WE WiLL HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF EGYPT. THEY'VE BEEN EMER: HANG: PEACE: FRIENDS FOR 2 LONG rime. THEY BOTH MAYBE SADAT WELCOMED. THE SHAH BECAUSE HIS FIRST WIFE WAS EGYPTIAN. LET'S TALK ABOU SOMETHING ELSE. LET'S ENTOV CUR, NOW THAT NEW FREEDOM! THE DEVIL HAS LEFT! WsAFTER ALL THIS TOY, & MATOR - MISFORTUNE TOOK PLACE: THE GUT SHE WAS THE ONE TeacHer!) ( SATRAPI! You SCHOOLS, CLOSED DURING THIS WHO ToLb US THAT THE sie save | | sown T Sav PERIOD, REOPENED BND... SHAH WAS CHOSEN BY GOD! Tuer Te tas Grosen ev | \w tHe connent CHILDREN, TEAR OUT ALL THE PHOTOS OF THE LOOK! & BULLET ALMOST HIT MY WIFE’S CHEEK. LIBERTY IS PRICELESS. HELLO DEAR NEIGHBORS. HELLO! ALL THOSE DEMMON-| a STRATIONS TIRING GUT WE FINALLY WHAT NERVE! SHE ALWAYS HAD THAT NASTY SPOT. IF WE WEREN'T NEIGHBORS, HE WOULD HAVE Said) SHE'S A MGR TYR RAISED FROM THE DEAD, MY FATHER SAYS RAINS FATHER, WAS IN THE SAVAKS * SECRET POLICE OF THE SHAH'S REGIME, alsIN THE NOME OF THE DEAD MILLION, \NE/LL TEACH RAMIN A GOOD LESSOM. 1 HAVE AN IDEA... $0 KIDS, WHAT ARE you up TO? WHERE 1D SWE YOU FIND THE ] NAILS? MY IDEA WAS TO PUT NAILS BETWEEN OUR FINGERS LIKE AMERICAN! BRASS KNUCKLES AND TO ATTACK RAMIN. asBUT MOM, RAMIN'S FATHER KILLED, YOuR CATHER IS A HE IS NOT 2 MURDERER! MURDERER BUT IT'S HE KILLED COMMUNISTS. JusTICe. 'P NOT YOUR FAULT, AND COMMUNISTS, EVEN SAY WE SOI FORGIVE YOU' ARE EVIL HAVE TO LEARN TO FORGINE. MOM, | SPOKE 70 RAMIN. HE SAYS HAVE TO FORGIVE! ‘MY GODHE REPEATS WHAT THEY Nardichnt atu sat nb thas THAD THE FEELING OF BEING SOMEONE REALLY, REALLY GOOD. uefee THE HEROES THE POLITICAL PRISONERS WERE LIBERATED A FEW DAYS LATER. THERE WERE 3000 OF THEM. WE KNEW TWO OF THEM. SIAMAK JARI eORN FEBRUARY 20, 1945 IN LURISTAN PROFESSION: TOURNALIST CRIME: WROTE SUBVERSIVE ARTICLES IN THE KEYHAN DATE OF IMPRISONMENT: TOLY 4995 RELEASED: MARCH 1939 POLITICAL CONVICTION: COMMUNIST ae MOHSEN SHAKIBA BORN NOVEMBER 22, 194% IN RacHT PROFESSION: REVOLUTIONARY CRIME: REVOLUTIONARY DATE OF IMPRISONMENT :| APRIL 1994 RELEASED: MARCH 4979 POLITICAL CONVICTION: COMMUNISTHAD HEARD ABOUT SIAMAK EVEN BEFORE THE REVOLUTION. HE WAS. THE HUSBAND OF MY MROTHER’S BEST FRIEND HOW LONG SINCE YOU HAD ANY NEWS ABOUT HIM? DON’T YOU KNOW THAT WHEN THEY KEEP SAVING SOMEONE IS ON A TRIP IT REALLY MEANS HE IS DEAD? LALY WAS SIAMAK'S DAUGHTER. BRING LALY wiTH YOU AND COME BY TODAY. WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT. AT LEAST THAT Was THE CASE WITH| MY GRANDPA, GO TO YOUR ROOM AND ‘STAY THERE! rs [NOBODY WiLL AGCEPT THE TRUT! agJoF-TER THE REVOLUTION | REALIZED] THAT YOU COULD BE MISTAKEN. WHAT DOES HE LOOK LiKe? TODAY 1S A GREAT DAY, DARLING. WE'VE INVITED LALV's FATHER AND PMOHSEN, THEY BOTH SUST LEFT PRISON. a ee AND THIS MUST BE MARI. LORD! THE LAST TIME i SAW HER SHE Was ONLY THREE VEARS OLD. i) TIME IS IRRETRIEVABLE, WHEN THEY ARRESTED ME, LALY BARELY SPOKE AND NOW SHE IS 2 REAL YOUNG Lady. 43WOU REMEMBER, THE DAY THEY PULLED OUT JAY NAILS? WOOK! ON YOUR SOLES HERE age NERNES THAT Lé00 DIRECTLY TO THE BRAIN] REAL SCIENTISTS! OUR, TORTURERS RECEIVED THEY KNEW EACH PART SPECIAL TRAINING FROM THE Cid, OF THE BODY. THEY KNEW WHERE TO HIT! soTay wrapper me warn twex eiee-] Moor Teton | NY PARENTS WERE £0 LES SO. MUCH THAT THIS rims ad Meee es ‘SHOCKED. LOOKS LIKE ANYTHING BUT A FOOT. es @) pail THAT THEY FORGOT TO SPARE) IS EXPERIENCE AHMADI AHMADI WAS ASSASSINATED, AS A MEMBER OF THE GUERILLAS, HE SUFFERED HELL. HE ALWAYS HAD CYANIDE ON HIM IN CASE HE WAS ARRESTED, GUT He WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE AND UNFORTUNATELY He NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO USE IT... SO HE SUFFERED THE WORST TORTURE... is Eo CoNFess! WHERE ARE THE OTHERS! saHe was IN MY CLASS AT THE UNIVERSITY. IT'S a GOCD THING THEY DIDN'T KILL YOUR] FATHER IN PRISON, UT You HAVE TO abMIT WASN'T COMPLETELY WRONG WHEN | SAID HE WAS NOT ON A TRIP. MY FATHER WAS NOT A HERO, MY MOTHER WANTED TO KILL PEOPLE...S0 | WENT CUT TO Play IN THE STREET.ITHOSE STORIES HAD GIVEN THe ONE wo Loses) WILL BE TORTURED, BACK AT HOME THAT EVENING, | HAD THE DIABOLICAL FEELING OF POWER. BAD PEOPLE ARE DANGEROUS BUT FORGIVING THEM IS TOO, DON'T WORRY, THERE IS TUSTICE ON EARTH ME NEW IDEAS FOR Games| [I Have imsanea-| TION T0Q.. THE MusTacie-on- Fine TORTURE GONSISTS OF PULLING ON THE TWO SIDES OF ‘THE UPPER LIP. ‘BUT IT DON'T Last. | (WAS OVERWHELMED. eur! THOUGHT ONE SHOULD FORGIVE. DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SUSTICE WAS. NOW THAT THE REVOLUTION WAS FINALLY OVER ONCE AND FOR ALL, LABANDONED THE DIALECTIC MATERIALISM OF (AY. COMIC STRIPS. THE ONLY PLACE I FELT SAFE WAS. IN THE ARIAS OF MAY FRIEND . sTHEY CUT MY DAD'S LEG OFF, BUT HE STILL DIDN'T CONFESSI.., SO THEY COT OFF AN ARM AS WELL. THE ONLY ONE OF MY FATHER’S BROTHERS | HAD NEVER MET. BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN IN PRISON, AND NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, MY GRANDMA WAS REUNITED WITH HER SIX CHILDREN. LUCKILY, ONE DAY THEY TOLD AME ABOUT MY UNCLE ANOOSH. (DA HERO IN MY Yow NATURALLY | SUCH A SWEET CHILD! I'LL IMMEDIATELY, SLEEP HERE TONIGHT AND TELL YOU STORIES. 4DON'T BOTHER. Him 0K, HERE GOES: | WAS 18 YEARS] [FEREYDOON ELECTED HIMSELF TOO MUCH, HE'S TIRED. OUD WHEN MY UNCLE. FEREYDOON MINISTER OF TUSTICE OF AND HIS FRIENDS PROCLAIMED THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE IRANIAN tare PROVINCE OF AZERBAITAN... GENTLEMEN, JUSTICE IS. “THE BASIS OF DEMOCRACY. }] aut MEN SHOULD BE EQUAL IN THE EVES OF THE LAW. TAY IDEAS WERE THE Same A5| [1 BECAME FEREYDOON'S SECRETARY.| | ONE NIGHT 1 HAD A HIS. BUT YOUR GRANDFATHER | | IT WAS A TIME OF DREAMS AND TERRILE NIGHTMARE: REMAINED FAITHFUL TO THE ENTHUSIASM. DEAD PEOPLE, BLOOD... SHAH. 7 “AZERBAITAN IS ONLY THE ee ares BEGINNING. WE ARE GOING , Soot Ue Wirt ay To FREE IRAN PROVINCE BY IDIOTIC BROTHER! PROVINCE you" Jo? eG, EXECUTED! 0 You Hear Me? lexecuren! THE NEXT MORNING, | WAS SO TORMENTED. L HAD TO SEE FEREYDOON. G00D GOD! FEREYDOON! ssT WANTED TO DO SOMETHING... BUT FOR DAYS AND DAYS | WALKED THROUGH THE FALLING SAO\ HERE WAS NOTHING 1 COULD DO..THEY| | 1 CROSSED THE ALBORZ MOUNTAINS TO FIND REFUGE AT MY ARRESTED HIM AND IRAN AWAY, PARENTS’ HOUSE IN ASTARA, eel =| i} == ae aa ina = a WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT IS HE WHO'S GOTHERING US DOING HERE? AT THIS HOUR? WHY DIDN'T HE STAY WITH HIS NICE UNCLE? come. Quick! i's oor’ ‘SON aNOOSH' we Has, FAINTED! 56ALWAYS S04 THE RIGHT THING OH MY GOD. AT THE RIGHT TINE! HELP ME AOW! 1 SWAM ACROSS THE ARAS RIVER AND ARRIVED IN THE USSR, Happens 6. YOUR. UNCLE FEREYDOON? 1 LEARNED THAT HE KNEW THE SHAH’S ARMY WAS COMING TO ARREST HIM. HE COULD HAVE RUN AWAY LIKE MOST OF HIS. FRIENDS DID. BUT HE DECIDED TO STAY. stJAT THE TIME HE HAD A GIRLERIEND WHO WAS INVOLVED IN HS POLITICAL MOVE MENT. A GIRL FROM A GOOD FAMI le MY (ul YES, | PAID THE GuaRD. He WON'T BOTHER US. YOU KNOW WHAT IT 1S LIKE TO BE AN UNMARRIED MOTHER WW THIS COUNTRY, YOU WILL BE SHUNNED, LIFE WILL BE HELL. THAT SHE HAD A SON. | HEARD He LOOKS @ LOT LIKE HiS FATHER, 8 LET’S MAKE A CHILD. TRAOW, WANT 3. LIVING MEMORY OF YOU. HAVE OTHER STORIES UKEANP YOU, WHAT Bip YOU DO IN THE USSR? (rast | wenr To veNINGeaD, THEN TO PAOSCOW, WHERE | BECAME A STUDENT, | HANE A pocToRaTE| IN MARKISM-LENINISM, S ‘i “| SHE WAS MY WIFE. RUSSIANS ARE Like. IT'S HEARTS THEY BOAT HAVE. ee THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE, OK, BUT WHY 1S HER 7 » y sna? poN'T THeh ead scRaTcheD OUT? nT? PONT yas ) x 53AFTER THE SEPARATION, | FELT VERY LONELY, I MISSED MY COUNTRY, MY PARENTS, MY BROTHERS. I DREAMT ABOUT THEM OFTEN. | DECIDED TO GO HOME. | GOT A FALSE PASSPORT AND DISGUISED MYSELF, Hey! you wit THe BeaRD AND SUNGLASSES! THEY SAY YOU WERE ‘NO, He TOLD rr TORTURED TERRIELY, LIKE T9.MOM OND | SIAMAK, LALY'S FATHER. HEARD HIM, SUFFER WAS. 60 THEY PUT ME IN PRISON FOR NINE VEARS. THAN LAL" 1 TELL YOU ALL THIS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW. OUR, FAMILY MEMORY MUST NOT @E LOST. EVEN IF IT’S NOT EASY FOR YOU, EVEN IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT ALL. Don‘r woRrRy, VU NEVERTHERE ARE LOTS OF HEROES IN MY WAS EVEN IN THE USSR. MY GREAT- 64TRL uae DURING THE THE ANIOGH STAVED WITH US . | HEARD POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS OF THE HIGHEST ITS NOT IMPORTANT. EVERYTHING ieee Wnattuensorrna since Vinbre wat Tee Raton Me nckenese. THe RevO.UTON LITERATE VOU EARNET OMT 1S A LEFTIST REVOLUTION AND . 2 ous ns hat cant eae THE REPUBLIC WANTS TO BE UNITE THEM IS NATIONALISM cacue toca : Wea nec cme ON TW THEY Say THAT 99.99% OF THE JeOpUL ATION VOTED FOR THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC, He PROLETARIAT SHALL RULE! rr's INevir eaves! rat’s Just WHAT LENIN EXPLAINED I THE STATE AND THE REVOLUTION} DD YOU HEAR THAT, ANOOSH ? D0 YOU REALIZE HOW IGNORANT OUR PEobLE ARE? THE ELECTIONS WERE FAKED AND THEY BELIEVE THE RESULTS: 92997)" AS FOR ME, | DON'T KNOW A SINGLE PERSON WHO VOTED FOR THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. WHERE bib THAT FIGURE OME FROM? FROM THEIR 05565, THAT'S WHERE 62MY PARENTS SAY IT'S IMPOS- SIBLE TO UNE UNDER AN ISLAMIC REGIME, IT’S BETTER TO LEAVE. GUT THe REUGIOUS LEADERS Ae VERY STUPID, THEY WON'T LOT. BRuce Lee 1S DEAD. IT WAS-THE END OF THE WORED osAFTER MY FRIEND'S DEPARTURE, & GOOP PART OF MY FAMILY ALSO LEFT THE COUNTRY. x]DON'T Be Tag! Ir’s, UKE THIS WITH ALL REVOLUTIONS. THIS 1s JUST A TRANSI- TIONAL PERI MY MOTHER WAS RIGHT TO BELIEVE IT WAS MURDER... WHEN THEY FOUND HIS BODY, ONLY HIS HEAD WAS UNDERWATER EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGH esore tt HH] LH my x ny DO YOU KNOW WHERE Samak 0 NO YOU bo, BUT THEY] FAUST SURELY Have WiDbEN ‘SOMEWHERE + LATER ON WE LEARNED THEY CROSSED THE BORDER HIDDEN AMONG ‘A FLOCK OF SHEEP. (EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT. “6‘ND THAT IS HOW JUL THE FORMER he WHAT? WASN'T HE REVOLUTIONARIES BECAME THE SWORN ENEMIES OF THE REPUBLIC. | |\ SUPPOSED TO COME?) WASN'T ANOOSH GOING TO = PICK ME UP? ue, Hao To LEAVE GuICk-| War HIS WIFE CALLED HIM HE ASKED Me TO TEU You GooveYe. DARLING! bib YOu Have 4 oop BAY AT scH0L? a ee eS 6| THINK WE NEED TO TALK. 5 Gob, DON'T LET HIM BE DEAD. we ° ° >YOu KNOW, YOU HAVE HONORED AN WITH YOUR VISIT ? BUT You'll Seet ONE DAY THE PROLETARIAT WILL ROLE! 69AND $0 | WAS LOST, WITHOUT ANY BEARINGS... WHAT COULD BE WORSE THAN. MAR7i, RUN TO THE BASEMENT! WE'RE BEING BOMBED! BEGINNING OF THETHey’ve occuPieD THE US, EMBASSY"! THEY Cou IT “A NEST OF SPIES” Ha Ha! YouD THINK IT WAS A JAMES BOND MOVIE. Gy MY GREAT DREAM WENT OP ‘ee bongs NS TH Sooke 1 wyOO.oNe Be Bue To Go70 THe OnrTED STATES. MAyBE, BUT NOW THINK ABOUT IT. NO ONE CAN Go NO EMBASSY, TO THE UNITED NO VISA! STATES. THE DREAM WASN'T THE USA. IT WAS SEEING MY FRIEND KAVEH, WHO Hab LEFT TO €0 LIVE IN THE” STATES A YEAR EARLIER, ErAND THEN SOME DAYS LATER, THE MINISTERY OF EDUCATION HAS. DECREED THAT UNIVERSITIES WILL LOSE AT THE END OF THE MONTH, “THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND WHAT is WRITTEN IN SCHOOL BOOKS, AT ALL LEVELS, ARE DECADENT. EVERY THING NEEDS TO 8E REVISED TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHUDREN ARE NOT Leb ASTRAY FROM THE TRUS PATH OF ISLAM. OF COURSE, OF COURSE! NO MORE UNIVERSITY, AND | WANTED TO STUDY CHE MmisTRY. LWANTED TO GE LIKE MARIE THAT'S WHY WE'RE CLOSING ALL THE UNIVERSITIES FOR A WHILE, BETTER TO HAVE NO STUDENTS AT ALL THAN TO EDUCATE FUTURE IMPERIALISTS. I WANTED TO BE AN EDUCATED, LIBERATED WOMAN, AND iF THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE MEANT GETTING CANCER, SO BE IT. 175 1 wo Discovered THE NEWEST RADIOACTIVE. ELEMENT. 33 NOW, $8e, SOON THEY'RE ACTUALLY {GONG 70 FoRce US TO WEAR. THE VELL AND Vou, VOW HAVE 70 TRADE YOUR CAR FOR A CAMEL G00, WHAT A BACKWARD POLICY MISERY! AT THE B66 THAT MARIE CURIE FIRST WENT To FRANCE TO STUDY, PHL PROBABLY Have TEN CHILOREN...YOUR MOTHER'S CAR BROKE DOWN, WE HAVE TO PICK HER UP. “THEY INSULTED NE. THEY SAID THAT SAND THAT IF | DION'T WANT WOMEN UKE 106 SHOULD 26 PUSHED That To HAPPEN , | SHOULD UP AGAINST A WALL AND FUCKED, WEAR THE Vel BND THEN THROWN IN THE GARBAGE. CALM DOWN, DARLING, COLA DOWN, WHAT DID THEY DO? THAT INCIDENT AMADE MY MOTHER SICK FOR JAND $0 TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM OU THE POTENTIAL| SEVERAL DAYS RAPISTS, THEY DECREED THAT WEARING THE VEIL was OBLIGATORY, Q a oa! 55 BAYTHING | CAN , GET YOU, MOM? WOMEN'S HAIR, EMANATES RAYS THAT EXCITE SEN, THAT'S WHY WOMEN SHOULD COVER THEIR HAIRL IF WN FACT IT 1S REALLY MORE CIVILIZED 10 Go WITHOUT THE VEIL, THEN ANIMALS ARE MORE GNILIZED THAN WE ARE. INCREDIBLE! THEY THINK WL MEN ARE PERVERTS" 4TWO TIME, THE WAY PEOPLE DRESEED BECAME AN THERE WERE ALSO TWO SORTS OF MEN. DEOLOGICAL SIGN THERE WERE TWO KINDS OF WOMEN. THE FUNDAMENTALIST THE FUNDAMENTALIST MAN WOMAN You stowep YOUR OPPOSITION TO THE REGIME BY LETTING A ISLAM IS MORE OR LESS FEW STRANDS OF HAIR. SHOW. AGAINST SHAVING. QUT LET'S BE FAIR. IF WOMEN | [IT WASN'T ONLY THE GOVERMMENT THAT CHANGED. ORDINARY PEOPLE FACED PRISON. WHEN THEY CHANGED TOO. REFUSED TO WEAR THE VEIL, TT WAS ALSO FORBIDDEN FOR, PEN TO WEAR IEEKTES HAT DREADED SYMBOL 1 The WEST). AND IP WOMEN'S Vane Ste was” HAI GOT MEN EXCITED, THE WEARING A MINISKIRT, SAyne THING COULD BE SAID OF SHOWING OFF HER BEEFY MEN'S BARE ARMAS: AND SO, “THIGHS TO THE. WHOLE WEARING SHORT-SLEEVED SHIRTS WAS ALSO FORBIDDEN. ——= = ear oir ses houTitace eveay| {| WHAT YOU DO OURING THE EOL | ARNE 12 18. CUR TURE He UT TERS THE WORD “ALCOR.” DAY, say YOU PRAY, YOU Van rue rosa UNDERSTAND? PRAY FIVE TIMES 4 DAY, "IN SPITE OF ENERY THING, THE NO! IT’S TOO DANGEROUS, SHE SHOULD START Ewen SIT N DEMONS TRAT ON Gis As a WOMAN 00. O FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I SAW VIOLENCE WITH MY OWN EVES.RIGHT BEFORE GOING BACK, IN THE HOTEL ROOM THE TV SHOWED A MAP OF IRAN AAD A BLACK IN pNADRI CLOUD COVERING THE COUNTRY LITTLE BY LITTLE. 1D Y Fr UeOKS LIKE THEY'RE TALK i ABOUT THE WHOLE COUNT! Seer ao . NOT JUST THE CAPITAL, craOH! I'M TAKING THIS THING OFF. IT’S TOO HOT. ae “TRUE. BUT SOON THERE'LL a ITS GOOD TO BE OF Ne eS BACK. THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE. HAVEN'T i HEARD wHaT?] ecTHENY ONY THe SECOND INVASION IN AU0D YEARS! AY BLOOD Srey oC ouncen If | was Bouna, | was Reapy ro Derexo my Wr rwo DAYS aco, COORITRY AGAINST THESE ARABS WHO KEPT But REAWY, IT's ATTACKING US BEEN 2 MONTH, THe IRANIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS TRIED To Srie UP Thele wagt sure Allies AGAINST Sappan, He's BEEK WAITING FOR “THE nance. He's auwavs wanTee 70 vane ean, AND HERE'S The Paerext. rs THE SECOND aRae nivasion TWENTE TO FIGHT. 39A FEW DAVS AFTER OUR TRIP, AND UST BEFORE | HAD TO GO BACK TO ‘SCHOOL, WENT TO MY FATHER'S OFFICE. TYPE THIS AND MAKE THREE CODES, (DONT THINK 30. THOSE) ORE PROBABLY IRAQIS, cor wT? Way 00 IRAQI ANIGS HAVE eomeeD TEHRAN. 80 IRANIAN OR IRAQI, THE TETS HOGGED THE GROOND BEFORE SUDDENLY ZOOMING UP INTO THE SIKY RIGHT BEFORE THE (MOUNTAINS ON THE HORIZON,34 WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ? OF COURSE I'M NOT GOING TO FIGHT. WHY SHOULD 1 RIGHT 7 OK, ENOUAH OF THAT. THE REAL ISLAMIC INVASION HAS COME FROM UR OWN, GOVERNMENT. THE IRAGIS eomnsed ust WAR ALWANS TAKES YOO BY SURDRIE,WE HAVE TO BOH6 BAGHDAD! BOMB BAGHOAD...YOU NEED PILOTS FOR THAT. AFTER THE GENERALS BLEW THEIR CHANCE AT A COUP D'ETAT , THEY WERE ALE Jailed Take YOUR FeET ‘OR EXECUTED... OFF THE TABLE, TENEW FIGHTER PILOTS. MY WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? CES Hua D ORES PATIO. SHE NEVER TOLD ME HER FATHER COUP D'ETAT? PILOTS IN waste WAS IN PRISON! ALTHOUGH LAST TAIL? WHAT PLOTS? YEAR. SHE DIDN'T COME TO ‘ : SCHOOL FOR A WHOLE MONTH. THAT BASTARD SADDAM WAITED UNTIL ENTEZAML.ENTEZAMI.. WE WERE WEAK BEFORE ATTACKING?! He WAS ONE OF THE CONDEMNED. FIRST = PORDISSE ENTEZAMN'S DAD 1S A FIGHTER PILOT, He's GOING TO 40 He HAS TO GET CUT OF PRISON! 82PATRIOT. ‘SUDDENLY, | HEARD THE IRANIAN TT HAD BEEN MORE THAN A VEAR IT'S THe PITS! My Pap RATIONAL’ ANTHEM COMING FROM SINCE WE'D HEARD IT. 15 A DEFEATIST. HE'S NO THE TV. CUR STAR-SPANGLED BANNER, . . Ui SOLET TH QM, THOUGHTS} ‘OF YOUR ENEMIES BE FAR FROM YOU $9) TT HAD BEEN FERBODEN AND REPLACED 6N| THE NEN GIVERNMENT'S ISLA) HYPE. WELCOME TO THE £:00 NEWS. 440 IRANIAN F-AU4S YOU CAN'T ALWAYS BELIEVE CARRIED OUT BOMBING RAIDS ON BAGHDAD. TONIGHT. WHAT THEY SAY. # O'CLOCK, THE BEC IS BROADCASTING ‘TOO. WHERE'S THE RADIO? WELL, THERE'S Your” pROor Hat GOR ARAAY 1S STILL STRONG! 33SADDAM!” | WAS. ALL WRONG ABOUT DaD. HE LOVED HIS COUNTRY AS MUCH 4S 1 01D. BuTHE REST OF THE NEWS, "6, DAD wasn't 2 co 1 HOPS PARNESE's On TKNEW RIGHT AWAY, 8UT E DIDN'T PARE ASK, IN CLASS, THE TEACHER ASKED US TO WRITE 4 T DIDN'T NEED TO DO MUCH THINKING, | KNEW ALL REPORT ABOUT THE WAR ABOUT THE WAR. YOO KNEW WHAT Lou's Going 70 sAy7] aSI WROTE FOUR PAGES ON THE LWAS VERY PROUD OF MYSELF. HISTORICAL CONTEXT ENTITLED “THE ARAG CONQUEST AND waTHIS WAR IS THE SAME AS THE OWE 4400 YEARS, AG UT THE TEACHER DIDNT SEEM ‘Too IMPRESSED, PARDISSE'S REPORT WAS BY FAR THE BEST. IT WAS A LETTER TO HER. FATHER IN WHICH SHE PROMISED TO TAKE CARE OF HER MOTHER AND UTTLE BROTHER. LWISH HE WERE ALIVE AND IN JAIL RATHER YOUR FATHER ACTED LIKE em ane (eer Aer THAN BEAD AND A HERO, z SHOULD BE PROUB OF HIM! 86" — wT = ee 3 ee) —_— — 7 CW ee @. avantTHERE WASN'T MUCH AT THE GAS STATIONS EITHER wore ent Jour canst WHY 00 YOU THINK? TO MAKE, DT ee ee totes EVERY MORNING | HAVE TO DRIVE 40 MILES $0 THAT YOU CAN HAVE A PEACEFUL UFE, HOW am | GOING TO 90 THAT WITH NO COR? HUH? THATS WHY I NEED CANS, FOR GASOLINE! CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? THE CAR RUNS ON GAS! TAM SO SORRY, DARLING, Fe BEEN RON NING AROOND THe WHILE DAYIVE GAT & SPUTTING HEADACHE. YOU KON WHAT? FA TOST GONG TO FILL UP THE TANKS. AND THEN WELL TRY TF Tex OS UNTH TWO IN THE MORNING, WE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T GO TO ANY RESTAURANT, WE DON'T Flu CANS, OTHERWISE THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE. OF COURSE THEY'RE NOT SAYING ANYTHING IT'S A HuGe Mess" IAG COMBED THE REFINERY AT agaDan' ALRIGHT. TOO BAD. ‘BUT 00 YOU KNOW. WHAT'S GONG ON? THE PRESS ISN'T RAL NAS MY MOTHER "S CHIEDAOOD| SAYING ANYTHING. FRIEND. SHE LIVED IN ABADAN WITH HER HUSBAND AND TWO KIDS. 38OM THE IRAGI MISSES. z z g 3 2 ? 38 5 = vi 3 z 3 3 : 8 8 3 3 z 5 AFTER ABADAN, EVERY BORDER ian Te ORTHEY DID HAVE & REALLY NICE. HOUSE. WE SPENT OUR VACATION THERE A Few YEARS EARLIERMALI AND HER FAMILY SPENT A WEEK WITH US, THAT'S HOW LONG IT TOOK TO SELL THE TEWELRY AND START OVER AGAIN. MMALI'S MOTHER WAS BITTER AND HARD TO DEAL WITH {AND DEAF), BUT THEY WERE ye INCE THE REFUGEES HAVE DES CENDED ON TEHRAN, YOU CAN'T GET BATHING TO EAT ANNIVGRE, a2THEY TAKE |_[my nelaneor EVEN sa SHE HEARD EVERYTHING, >THAT THEIR WOMEN ARE PROSTITUTING, THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH OUR HUSBANDS. fir's TermieLe, war) ‘YOURE SAVING! I FELT $0 ASHAMED FOR MYSELF... 8L THEKEY THE IRAGI ARMY HAD CONQUERED THE CITY OF KHORRAMMSHAHR, THEIR ARMS WERE MODERN, BUT WHERE IR2Q HAD QUALITY, WE HAD QUANTITY. COMPARED 70 IRAQ, IRAN HAD A HUGE RESERNOIR OF POTENTIAL SOLDIERS. THE NUMBER OF WAR MARTYRS EMPHASIZED THAT DIFFERENCE, CAN YOU HELP NE STYLE MY HOW GAN | NOT SEE ? THEY'RE ACCORDING TO SHITE TRADI- woe et Nar ase ee ream AE eeaes || |] Tay wae ant unniaeas THE STREETS ARE PACKED CHAMBER 1S BUILT FOR HIM. TATE RGPTIAL names, j] || SBMBER'S COUT Fa se, cone teaicaay arent Se IT WAS Oevious THAT MANY OF THE FIGHTERS, DIED VIRGINS. (OUR COUNTRY HAs ALWAYS KNOWN. WAR AND MARTYRS, SO, LIKE. MY FATHER SAID: SWHEN A BIG WAVE THAT'S VERY PERSIAN. THE, [PALOSOPHY OF RESIGNATION 94THEN THE LOUDSPEAKERS STARTED TO SING. TREMEMBER MY INITIATION. IT WAS THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS AFTER SUMMER VACATION, BABABABABAS PHEY TROOPS OF... BE s READY, 1 BE READY e/ waned! wade! Sm i if IT WASN'T AG BAD AS ONE ANGHT THINK, WE'D: SEEN IT BeFORE. HITTING YOURSELF IS ONE OF re COUNTRYS RITUALS. DURING Eg iam PRES 26AFTER A LITTLE WHILE, NO ONE. TOOK THE TORTURE SESSIONS SERIOUSLY ANYMORE, AS FOR PAE, | IMMEDIATELY STARTED MAKING FUN OF THEM. THE MARTYRS! EVERY SITUATION OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LAUGHS: LIKE WHEN WE HAD TO KNIT WINTER, HOODS FOR THE SOLDIERS... ‘STOP THAT! OR FUL CALL THE PRINCIPAL! YOU'RE AS WORTHLESS AS. YOUR DECORATIONS! YOU'RE WORTHLESS! You HEAR ME?! WORTHLESS!".., SaTRAPI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE GROUND? 1M SUFFERING, CAN'T YOU $EE?, (OR. WHEN WE HAD TO DECORATE THE CLASSROOM FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVOLUTION, WHO SAID THAT? WHO WAS IT? woes SHE HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UF? iF MOT, YOULL ALL 8€ PUNCHED! WELL? WHO Was IT oFT THINK THAT THE REASON WE WERE $0 REBELLIOUS WAS THAT OUR GENERATION HAD KNOWN SECULAR SCHOOLS. OBVIOUSLY, THEY CALLED OUR PARENTS I STOP RIGHT THERE. YOU'RE SAVING THAT WE DONT KNow How To EDUCATE. OUR CHILDREN? ‘YOUR CHILDREN HAVE NO RESPECT FOR ANYTHING. NO SELF-CONTROL! THE Basis. OF EDUCATION COMES FROM THE FAMILY! USTEN, WE'RE AT WAR. ALOT. OF CHILDREN DONT EVEN HAVE SCHOOL THESE DAVE. YOURS. HAVE a RARE OPPORTUNITY, $0 YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY'RE WELL-BEHAVED! THEY CON 0 FORBIDDEN. TO PLAY Like THE KIDS THEY ane 7? TANNaN, THAT’S HOw IT Is! EITHER THEY OBEY THE LAW, OR THEY'RE EXPELLED! iF Hain 1S AS STIMULATING 4S YoU Say, THEN YOU NEED TO SHAVE YOUR MUSTACHE! 98GIRLS HAD TO MAKE WINTER, HOODS FOR THE SOLDIERS, GUT BOYS HAD TO PREPARE TO BECOME SOLDIERS. S0, TELL Me, WHAT'S WRONG? HI MRS. NASRINE | (=) | vou pant cook RA) well. os \ MRS, NASRINE WAS OUR MAID. THEY Gave THIS TO MY SON AT SCHOOL. THEY TOU THE Q0vS THAT IF THEY WENT TO WAR AND WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BIE, THIS KEY WoULD] GET THEM INTO HEAVEN, ITs A PLASTIC key PAINTED GOL, VE SUFFERED $0 MUCH. | RAISED MY FIVE KIDS. WITH THE WATER OF MY TEARS, NOW THEY WANT TO TRADE THIS KEY FOR MY CLDEST SON, 99 NO, MY CHILD. I'M NOT OK. "6 OK, CRY, LET YOURSELF GO. TLL MAKE SOMME TEA, BUL MY URE, UWE BEEN FAITHFUL TO THE RELIGION. IF IT'S COME 70 THIS... WELL, I CONT BELIEVE, 2D THE eH, WHat b0e% He SAY? i \THEY TOLD HIM THAT IN PARA DISE THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FotD, WOMEN AND HOUSES: MADE OF GOLD AND DIAMGNDS. LISTEN, CHILD, THOSE ARE JUST ‘JRADE-UP STORIES! WHAT HELL? WHAT PARADISE? HEY! PEYMAN?..AWHAT?... NEXT WEEK YOU'RE HAVING A PARTY PML ASK MY MOM, BRING Hi ON THE Way, | THOUGHT HERE, FUL OF MY COUSIN PEYMAN, HE WAS ALSO FOURTEEN. THNK AG0UT WHEN YOURE GROWN UP. YOU Wilt GO TO COUEGE. YOUU BECOME Sonmescey. 4 aP G TEL ME, AT SCHOOL, DID THEY GIVE You THE Keys TO PARADISE? 400‘SHAHAB WAS ANOTHER COUSIN. HE HADN'T BEEN LUCKY: THE WAR STARTED JUST AS HE BEGAN HIS PAILITARY SERVICE. THEY SENT HIM TO THE FRONT RIGHT AWAY, = a 11'S NUTS! THEY HYPNOTIZE THEA AND JUST TOSS THEM INTO GATTLE, 2S00UTE CARNAGE.THE KEY TO PARADISE WAS FOR POOR PEOPLE. THOUSANDS OF YOUNG KIDS, PROMISED A BETTER LIFE, EXPLODED ON THE MINEFIELDS WITH THEIR KEYS AROUND THEIR NECKS, MEANWHILE, GOT TO GO TO MY FIRST PARTY. NOT ONLY DID MY MOM LET AAE GO, SHE ALSO KNITTED ME & SWEATER FULL OF HOLES AND MADE ME & NECKLACE WITH CHAINS AND NAILS. PUNK ROCK WAS IN. LWAS LOOKING SHARP, 102IT WaSN‘T TUOST THE BASEMENTS, THE INTERIORS OF HOMES ALSO " CHANGED. CUT TF WASN'T ONLY BcaUSE UF THE Wag PLANES anos THe STRERT. THEYRE MEN, WHAT'RE YOO ONG? roca ose won 2 ene AGAINST FLYING GLASS GURING 4 ROMEING AND THE BLACK CURTAINS ARE THE OTHER NIGHT, TWO GUARDIANS OF THE REVOLUTION PATROLS PAID THEM. A VISIT. ra THEY FOUND RECORDS AND VIDEO- CASSETTES AT THEIR PLAGE, A DECK OF CARDS, A CHESS SET. IN OTHER WORDS, EVERYTHING THAT'S BANNED. 105 SOMEONE TOLD US YOU WERE PLANNING, & PARTY, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S STRICTLY FORBIDDEN! HIS WIFE CRIED SO MUCH THAT THEY FINALLY LET HER. OFF WITH A HEFTY FINE. QUT HE CAN'T WALK ANYMORE AON YOU SEE WHY I'M PUTTING UP THE CURTAINS. WITH THe PARTIES We HAVE ON THURSDAYS GND THE CARD GAMES ON MONDAYS, AWE HAVE TO Be CAREFUL.TN SPITE OF abl THE DANGERS, THE PARTIES WENT ON. "WITHOUT THEM IT WOULDN'T BE PSYCHCLEGICALLY BEARABLE,” SOME Selb. “WITHOUT PARTIES, WE MIGHT AS WELL TUST BURY OURSELVES NOW,” ADDED THE OTHERS. MY UNCLE INVITED US TO HIS HOUSE TO CELEBRATE THE GIRTH OF MY COUSIN, EVERYONE WAS THERE. EVEN GRANDMA WAS DANCING. DAMN! POWER OUTAGE !! eae Ne 147 WE HAD EVERVTHING. WELL, JEVERVTHING THAT WAS FORBIDDEN. EVEN AUCGHOL, GALLONS OF IT. (AY UNCLE WAS THE VINTNER. HE HAD BUILT & GENUINE WINE MAKING LAB IN HIS. BASEMENT. 406 A ZaRe IG & Kin OF DRUM MY FaTHER| PLAYED IT VERY WELL. LIKE A PRO MARS. NASRINE, WHO Wes ALSO HIS CLEANING LADY, CRUSHED THE GRAPES.‘SUDDENLY, SIRENS STARTED TO WAL... BND MY AUNT DID TOO. RU rs accuser, ero cain A) T FOUND MYSELE WITH THE KEWBORN BABY WE HAD BEEN CELEBRATING IN ABOUT THEFORGIVE HIM. LISTEN, 1 COULD You'Re LOCky TO Have THIS r BE YOUR MOTHER. HOW OLO WOMAN FOR YOUR WIFE, OTHER= napaieabe Ee one seen ARE YOU? SIKTEEN?, WISE YOU'D ALREADY BE IN HELL! SNE Ge TU MY DAUGHTER IS THELYE SEE WHAT YOU HAVE: AT HONE:) FORGIVE HIM... GRANDINA! MARTI WHEN WE'RE THEY FOLLOWED US ALL THE WAY HOME. HOME, GET GUT FIRST. VLL TRY TO sTatl HIM, FLUSH ALL THE ALCOHOL DOWN THE TOILET. DON'T WORRY DEAR. IR USED. TOIT, WHEN YOUR, FATHER WAS AUNE, TWAS Always: HIDING HIS TRACTS. ‘MUST YOU REALLY COME UPSTAIRS? OUR ELDERY NEIGHBOR HAS 2 HEART CONDITION, TERE NODES IF HE'S FRIGHTENED ley THE NOISE, IT COULD KILL HIM WHERE PO you Two 409DIABETES, TUT LIKE MY MOTHER! LHAVE DIABETES, MY BOY. If 1 DON'T DRINK A LITTLE SYRUP, VAM GOING To PAINT. ‘50 YOU UNDERSTAND 17's URGENT! HURRY UP! | DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER YOUR FATHER CAN STALL THEM! Hey, You DIDN'T THRoW Fr aus 0072]e\ THE WAR HAD BEEN GOING ON FoR Two YEARS WWE WERE USED TO IT. 1 WAS GROWING UP AND: TTS PERFECTLY CLEAR. EVERY DAY THEY TELL US THAT TEVEN HAD FRIENDS OLDER THAN ME. lwe'Ve DESTROYED TEN PLANES AND FIVE TANKS. IF YOU ISTART FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR, THAT MAKE: THOUSAND PLINES AND THREE THRUSAND TALKS DESTROYED VESTERDAY ON THE NEWS THEY SAID WE ‘ DEETROVED 4 Rael Pes ICT Moree |EVEN THE AMERICANS DON'T HIVE AN ARIAY THIS B16. ION THE BC, | HEARD THAT IN FACT THE IRAQIS 1, we Gar PAIGE Ee 7 TION BUT WE'RE NOT. GOIN HEV, THERE'S THE eet, 1 DON’T YOU HAVE CLASS? AeiRe GONE ae All, YOU NEEDED WAS SOME MONEY. VeaH! AT KANSAS ON TORDAN AVENUE Ha HA HA Ha! DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT. HA HA Hal WEILL CLIMB THE Wall 1 HAD ALREADY BROKEN THE RULES ONCE BY GOING TO THE HAD DEMONSTRATION IN “39. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME a4