Eaten Fish released!

From the AAEC.

Adaptation of an Eaten Fish cartoon

After four years in a detention camp, cartoonist Ali Dorani (aka Eaten Fish) has been released.

The young Iranian cartoonist has been the focus of international attention on his plight and the deplorable conditions in Australian-run refugee camps on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.

Here is the press release on this breaking news.

**Manus Island cartoonist Eaten Fish in safety in ICORN residency** 

18 December 2017 — Award winning Iranian cartoonist Ali Dorani, known as Eaten Fish, has left Papa New Guinea and is now in safety. Dorani has spent the past four years in a refugee detention camp on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.

"I have left PNG. It was a long journey but I am safe now. I am thinking about my friends in Manus Island and Port Moresby. Thank you to my supporters and people who worked to make this journey happen." — Eaten Fish

Ali Dorani, an award-winning Iranian cartoonist known under the pseudonym Eaten Fish, has arrived safely in a city of refuge through the ICORN programme, after spending the past four years in the notorious offshore detention camp for refugees on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea (PNG). 

His cartoons are well known internationally and have become the image of life on Manus Island. 

Ali Dorani left Iran in 2013, arriving on Christmas Island by boat 6th August the same year, seeking asylum. He took the pen name, Eaten Fish, after he was pulled from the ocean on his way to Australia.

Dorani was transferred to Manus Island in January 2014, and started cartooning, documenting the harsh conditions and ill treatment of the asylum seekers in the detention camp. His cartoons are published extensively in online media including the Guardian, Washington Post, ABC news, and journals such as New Matilda and Law, Text, Culture. 

Dorani’s situation has been the concern of Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) and other human rights organisations who have advocated intensively for his release and fair treatment, alongside internationally renowned cartoonists.

Cartoon by Swaha

In 2016, Cartoonists Rights granted him the Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award, for keeping up a stream of cartoons documenting the unspeakable abuses and excesses in the camp.

On 16 December, Dorani left Papa New Guinea and arrived in a safe city in the ICORN programme. 

Elisabeth Dyvik, Programme Director of ICORN says in a statement to the press: “We are relieved that Eaten Fish has arrived safely in a city of refuge where he is free to pursue his career as a cartoonist. ICORN could not have organised this residency for him without the assistance and tireless work of a group of dedicated individuals and organisations, such as Bro Russels, Director of Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI); poet and activist Janet Galbraith, and cartoonist Andrew Marlton (better known as First Dog on the Moon). ICORN would also commend the city of refuge that has invited him to be the city’s ICORN resident for the next two years.” 

Press contact:
Cathrine Helland
Communication Manager, ICORN
ch@icorn.org
Ph: +47 5150 7888/Cell: +47 4795 3195

ICORN, the International Cities of Refuge Network, is a network of cities and regions working to promote freedom of expression by offering long term residencies to writers and artists who are at risk because of their professional activities. More than 60 cities around the globe has joined ICORN, to offer a safe space where persecuted writers and artists can live and work in safety.

Note to the Editor: The whereabouts of Eaten Fish is until further notice not public due to privacy and security reasons. He is currently not available for interviews.