‘Persepolis’ author Marjane Satrapi dies at 56

Marjane Satrapi, the acclaimed Iranian-French author and filmmaker, has died at the age of 56. Her passing was announced on Thursday by the Élysée Palace in Paris and Abbas Bakhtiari, head of the Pouya Iranian Cultural Association in Paris.

Satrapi gained international recognition for "Persepolis," her autobiographical graphic novel that chronicled her childhood in Iran, her experiences with exile and migration, and the impact of political upheaval. The celebrated work was translated into numerous languages and adapted into an award-winning animated film in 2007, which Satrapi co-directed with Vincent Paronnaud.

Born in Rasht, Iran, in 1969, Satrapi grew up in Tehran. In the mid-1980s, her parents sent her to Vienna to escape the political repression following the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War. She later moved to France, where she became one of the most prominent Iranian comic artists of her generation. Beyond "Persepolis," her notable works include "Broderies" (Embroideries) and "Poulet aux prunes" (Plum Tart), and she also worked as a film director and screenwriter.

In January 2025, Satrapi made headlines when she refused an award of France's highest order of merit, the Legion of Honor, in protest. She stated on Instagram that supporting the "Women's Revolution in Iran" could not be limited to posing for photos with victims or celebrities at commemorations for Mahsa Amini.

“

Supporting the Women's Revolution in Iran cannot be limited to posing for photos with victims or celebrities at commemorations for Mahsa Amini.