Iran announces new ‘Zionist caliphate’ cartoon contest

An Iranian museum on Tuesday kicked off a “Zionist caliphate” cartoon contest, with “Zionism, terrorism and racism” and “ISIL terrorism and genocide in the name of religion and to the benefit of the Zionists” the designated themes.

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.

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, according to the report.

The “Zionist caliphate” contest was announced a day after Iran’s annual Holocaust cartoon contest — which has been condemned by Israel, Germany, the US, and UNESCO — concluded.

Cartoonists from various countries, including France, had competed in the contest, which is organized by non-governmental bodies with strong support from Iran’s regime. Some $50,000 in prize money went to 16 finalists, with the top winner receiving $12,000.

“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,” the secretary for the Holocaust contest said, according to Fars.

Some 150 works from 50 countries were on display from May 14-30. Most of the works criticize Israel for allegedly using the Holocaust to distract the international community from its treatment of the Palestinians.