Iranian-French filmmaker Marjane Satrapi passes away
PARIS, June 4: Acclaimed Iranian-French cartoonist and filmmaker Marjane Satrapi, a prominent advocate for women’s rights, has died at 56, the French presidency said Thursday. “Her passing marks the loss of a leading figure of French culture and an artist devoted to freedom, whose work carried a universal message and earned her immense international acclaim,” the French presidency said in a statement. President Emmanuel Macron and his wife “pay tribute to a remarkable artist who transformed an Iranian childhood into a universal fable,” the statement said. News broadcaster BFM TV and other French media reported Satrapi has “died of sadness” a little over a year after the death of her husband, Swedish film producer and actor Mattias Ripa, according to a statement from people close to the artist. Satrapi is best-known for her monochrome autobiographical comic book and film “Persepolis,” a coming-of-age tale set against the Islamic Revolution in her native Iran. (PTI)
Gang-rape victim dies of abortion complications in Pakistan
Islamabad, June 4: An 18-year-old alleged gang rape victim died in Pakistan’s Punjab province while a procedure was being conducted on her at a government hospital following several complications related to abortion. The girl, a domestic helper, was allegedly gang raped by the son and driver of her employer in Model Town. According to the FIR, she was sexually abused several times a few months back and her employer concealed the matter to avoid police action. The issue came to light only after the girl died due to several abortion related complications. The police said the victim had accused the married son of the house owner and his driver of gang rape. The girl said she was first taken to a clinic in Raiwind due to the complications caused by the pills. During the illegal abortion procedure, the doctors diagnosed her with a four to five month miscarriage. The police said that murder charges have been included since the girl died during surgery in hospital. (IANS)
