An Iranian museum launched a “Zionist caliphate” cartoon contest this week, calling on participants to vilify Israel in their caricatures.
The contest by Iranian Cultural-Art Masaf Institute will offer one $5,000 award for best cartoon, $1,000 for best caricature and four $500 awards to the other top entries, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.
The designated themes of the contest are “Zionism, terrorism and racism” and “ISIL terrorism and genocide in the name of religion and to the benefit of the Zionists”.
In its portrait session, participants are asked to focus on Theodor Herzl and Queen Elizabeth. The competition is dedicated to the “Nakba” or displacement of Palestinians in 1948 with the establishment of the State of Israel.
Last month, Iran held a Holocaust cartoon contest which called on cartoonists worldwide to send in works denying or satirising the Holocaust. The contest drew widespread condemnation from around the world.
Cartoonists from various countries, including France, competed in the contest, which is organised by non-governmental bodies with strong support from Iran’s regime. Some $50,000 (£34,640) in prize money went to 16 finalists, with the top winner receiving $12,000 (£8,310).
According to the Fars news agency, the Secretary for the Holocaust Contest said: “We have witnessed the eye-catching participation of the western and European cartoonists in this edition of the exhibition, with the French artists showing the largest presence”.
Some 150 works from 50 countries were on display from May 14-30. According to reports, most of the works criticise Israel for allegedly using the Holocaust to distract the international community from its treatment of the Palestinians.
