17. Dec 2017

Manus Island cartoonist Eaten Fish is ICORN resident in Stavanger, Norway

Eaten Fish. Self Portrait. Photo. — Eaten Fish. Self Portrait.

Award winning Iranian cartoonist Ali Dorani, known as Eaten Fish, is ICORN resident in Stavanger, Norway. Dorani has spent the past four years in a refugee detention camp on Manus Island, Papua New Guniea (PNG). He arrived in Stavanger, Norway, on 17 December, directly from PNG.

Eaten Fish says:

“I had a very long journey – it was very stressful and i have been through a lot. When I landed in Norway, I couldn’t believe all this suffering was finished. The past five years in my life I had lots of security-guards, ERT, big boys. But when I came to Stavanger, everything was different. I didn’t see security around me, everyone was so friendly. I wasn’t scared to talk to police and ask questions. I met a lot of lovely people who care for me and who worked hard so I could come to Norway. I am in a fairy-tale city. The safest place I’ve ever been in. My journey has just started.”

Eaten Fish, 20. December 2017

Ali Dorani, an award-winning Iranian cartoonist known under the pseudonym Eaten Fish, has arrived safely in Stavanger 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.

In 2016, CRNI 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 17 December, Dorani arrived in Stavanger City of Refuge through 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 Stavanger 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 Stavanger that invited him to be the city’s ICORN resident for the next two years.”