Cartoon 144: The Master’s Message

In a video message on the occasion of the Persian New Year, Norooz, prominent Iranian musician Mohammad Reza Shajarian announced his 15-year battle with cancer. One of the country’s most popular artists and a master of traditional Persian music, Mr. Shajarian has openly voiced his criticism of the country’s media, political, and social policies over the recent years, and his voice and likeness have been consequently banned from the state radio and television broadcasts. This is cartoonist Touka Neyestani’s take on the news.