If you’re unaware of the Iranian Holocaust cartoon contest, then you’ve probably never been here before. Go ahead and catch up here.
After 8 months and 1,193 drawings from 62 countries, a winner has been chosen. Moroccan cartoonist Abdellah Derkaoui, took first place with the cartoon shown here. It depicts a crane with a Star of David sign, putting up blocks making a wall separating the Muslim shrine, the Dome of the Rock, from Jerusalem. The wall has a gate, shown in the distance, that looks like one at the Auschwitz concentration camp, where Jews were incarcerated and killed.
For his hard work, Derkaoui received $US12,000 and bragging rights for a year as winner of a contest that targeted people who hadn’t even drawn the Muhammed caricatures in the first place.
What I find amusing is how the presenter, Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mohammad Hossein Saffar-Harandi, praised Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who has described the Holocaust as a "myth".
The holocaust is about as much of a myth as the moon landing. People claim it was filmed in a Hollywood studio. Well I guess all the WWII footage of the concentration camps was filmed there too. Oh, and all the documents that the Germans kept at the camps was forged as well.
I hope this is the last battle in this ignorant cartoon war.
Related posts:
- Muslims Ready Holocaust Cartoons
- Israeli Anti-Semitic Cartoon Contest
- Flamethrower! Primetime Christian Ignorance
November 1st, 2006 at 6:17 pm
laughable. the funniest thing is, noone is going to protest, noone is going to butn mosques or make empty threats. everyone is just going to laugh, and not WITH the iranians. by denying/downplaying the holocaust, the iranian pres is associating himself with a very special group of lunatics…
November 1st, 2006 at 6:50 pm
What does this have to do with the Danish newspaper one? Why couldn’t they poke fun at jesus or something? Wouldn’t that have been the logical thing? Anyway, what is ironic is that, when this regime is over, it will be the mullahs that are burnt in the streets - we might even get some cartoons.
November 1st, 2006 at 6:56 pm
Some of the cartoon entries were actually pretty funny. Especially the one with Hitler and Anne Frank in bed. Yes, I was able to laugh about them (well, some of them) and yet stay as much anti-fascist as I was before. These cartoons will not shift public opinions.
Still many of the cartoonists who subitted entries ruined their otherwise fine cartoons by taking sides too much. Of course taking sides is the core principle of caricature. But a good cartoonist puts some true humor in it (in some cases very black humor) which many entries lacked. And I can’t stand the Iranian government (ab)using cartoons as a method of propaganda.
November 1st, 2006 at 7:08 pm
hehehe… concentration camps…
November 1st, 2006 at 7:35 pm
Aydin,
Because we believe that Jesus is prophet and we respect him, so we can’t do the same thing like ignorant people who published prophet Muhamed cartoon, we know respect not like the others.
November 1st, 2006 at 8:03 pm
I don’t even get what the joke is supposed to be.
November 1st, 2006 at 8:04 pm
“Because we believe that Jesus is prophet”
So the reason muslims didn’t make fun of jesus is because you believe he was a prophet. So it’s not really showing respect for others as much as it is not making fun of your own beliefs.
November 1st, 2006 at 8:47 pm
“We know respect, not like the others”, i guess making fun of an entire people (jews in this case), in response to something done by people who *aren’t* jews is entirely respectful, because the jews don’t have a prophet. and as everyone knows, respect is all about prophets.
and gangsta rappers.
November 2nd, 2006 at 12:36 am
and Bling bling.
@Mohammed
So you acknowledge the fact that they were ignorant. Is being ignorant a crime? If one is ignorant, can one be disrespectful?
November 2nd, 2006 at 2:58 am
“it will be the mullahs that are burnt in the streets - we might even get some cartoons.”
i look forward to both. more so, i will do whatever i personally can to make it happen.
November 5th, 2006 at 10:01 pm
1,193 entries and that POS was the winner? It doesn’t take a stance or make a point or even slightly raise the blood pressure. Though when it comes down to it, the mohammed cartoons weren’t anything to get worked up over either.
The whole idea is laughable. Religious Jews, Mohammedans, and Christians all worship the same non-existent god. So if they’re not willing to poke a little fun at their god, then who can they poke fun at? Vishnu?
November 11th, 2006 at 3:50 am
How many people died during the Vietnamese war? This is not discussed even among left wingers? I have seen figures on a handful of websites saying anywhere from 3 to 5 million.
How many Africans have died due to the United States regime changes as well the selling of more than a billions of dollars weapons that fueled and perpetuated wars?
How many Iraqis and Afghanis have died in the recent U.S. invasions? THe U.S. claims to be freeing the people of Saddam and the Taliban without acknowledging these were once U.S. allies.
The lack of discussions about these deaths are no different than the Holocaust denial of the Iranian president.
Oh, lets not forget that the United States had toppled the democratically elected government in the 1950’s and installed a puppet shah in its place.
During the Iran-Iraq war the United States fueled the war by sellijng weapons to both sides.
Saddam was put on trial for genocide. Will any of you call for any of his American and European collaboraters to be put on trial. If not than you are no better than A Holocaust denier.
November 11th, 2006 at 9:25 am
Hey randall, do you even read the post your commenting on? Of course we know about the innocent people lost in due to what America has been doing, thats why most want us out of Iraq and Afghanistan. We aren’t as stupid as you think, and especailly anyone who frequents this site.
November 11th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
Matt,
So you want us to give USA the excuse for all what they have done and nobody wants to gime Muslims the excuse for what’s going on the world, and all of you just keep blaming them for what’s going on.
Usama bin Laden and his followers live in Afghinstan, they are spelled form their home countries and they don’t even dare to go back to it, Usama Bin Laden most likely in Afghinastan, did you ever hear any Muslims complained about USA going to Afghinstan to get him?
The answer is not, yet USA changed thier goal to go Iraq and makes it shelter for the terroist, and then you blame Muslims, and today USA Vito theUn devison to condemnd Israel for the crimes they did last week in Plastine and yet you all wonder why there are terroism.
I’m an Egyptian, but just tell what Plastinan can do after USA let them down when they tried to go to UN to complain about Israel killing their childern, should they watch Israel and USA or sould they fighr for their lives like Lebanon did and now Israel would not dare to do it again.
Thank you
November 11th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
Matt,
I know what post I am commentting on. While all of you are laughing it up about the Iranians president’s Holocasut denial, I am pointing out how many athiests and relgious moderates are in denial of the masses of deaths the United States is responsible for.
Sam Harris, a hero amongst athiests, secular humanists and religious moderates, never discusses how the United States, in the name of our interests (in other words money) goes around toppling regimes and supporting brutal dictatorships who do our bidding.
The United States also fuels wars and makes money by selling weapons to boths sides of the conflict. I would like to see Sam Harris discuss this, but he is in denial of this and instead wants to talk night and dsy about how religion casues violences.
November 12th, 2006 at 11:13 am
Again, RandalJones, Holocaust denial and ignorance/apathy to America’s atrocious foreign policy are not comparable. One is an active attempt to deny historical fact, the other is passive lack of knowledge of historical fact.
November 12th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
sidfaiwu,
Iran is not responsible for the Holocaust. The United States is responsible for the regime changes and bombings around the world. But you still claim that this willfull apathy/ignorance is not as evil. Isn’t the United States a wealthy nation, were we have libraries, computers, and many news sources?
SO because we are ignorant and apathetic than those who have died have not suffered as much those who died during the Holocaust.
ANy where from 3 to 5 million people died during the Vietnam war. Who knows how many others have died due to the United States interventions in Africa, the Middle East, and South AMerica?
Which brings me to the figure 6 million Jews that died in the Holocaust. How come we have an exat number that never changes, but we can not get an exact number on how many died in many other genocides?
Do you know there are legitamate scholars (including Jewish ones) that are questioning the number of people ( as well as the cause/method) that died? There are these debates about many other genocides. WHy can’t there be an open debate about the number of Jews that died during World War II.
November 12th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
“WHy can’t there be an open debate about the number of Jews that died during World War II.”
what would that accomplish? we all know it was a very very large number. would that diminish what happened, if maybe if was 5.5 million instead of 6? oh, and dont underestimate the power of german accounting.
you like to group unrelated issues together. noone was talking about vietnam, or americas foreign policy. when there is a thread about that, you’ll feel right at home. this thread is about iran’s president describing the holocaust as a myth. and nothing america ever did will make that idiot seem less dumb.
November 12th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
boris,
If you want to keep on denying the mass killings and destruction that the United States has committed. Go ahead. I can’t stop you.
November 12th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
RandallJones,
I tried hard to let people here see some facts and know that every story has two sides, but no way they are always right and Muslims always wrong, Muslims are the evil in this world and Athiests are the gurdian angel of this earth.
What about Alegria when the French killed one million Algerian to get their freedom and the same story in Lybia, Egypt, Syrian and etc.
It’s all Muslims fault my friend, that’s what are you going to get out of here, the Athiest here know every thing about scince and they believe and accidents was the reason for human-being to exist and the great evolution.
When it comes to Jewish, you will find the numbers the pictures, the support, what ever you name it, it’s not just that, you can’t even discussed it or dobut it.
November 12th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
when did i deny anything? THIS IS NOT A THREAD ABOUT F-ING VIETNAM. stop being dense. i am well aware of what america does, my own country was a victim of it, in the name of “defending” muslim terrorists no less. that’s what powerful countries do, they tell others what to do, and if the less-powerful countries dont comply they get their hand slapped or ass kicked. it’s always been that way, and always will be. all that said, i am not opposed to USA attacking muslim countries. i am opposed to the lack of honesty surrounding the whole issue. let’s be honest about it, and let’s go kick some ass!
November 12th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
boris.
you are another example of an atheist or moderate religioous person who is neither ratonal or moral.
Joseph Stalin is probably the greatest mass murderer of all times, but he doesn’t get the recognition the way Hitler does. Stalin’s victims don’t get the recognition that Hitler’s victims do. WHy the double standard?
November 12th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
“you are another example of an atheist or moderate religioous person who is neither ratonal or moral.”
What was irrational or immoral about what he said, it seems like when someone makes a point against you you just simple, condescending language. You don’t post or come here to make or argue a point, your yelling it at everyone and insulting anyone who thinks differently. Your not representing your religion very well.
November 12th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
Hello RandalJones,
Let me say that you are right about what you wrote in your response to me. The examples of America’s actions that you cite are morally worse than lying about the Holocaust. But you were not referring to the actions of governments, but of individual people. You do not know how or why Sam Harris votes or what he believes about the US’s imperial policies, nor do you know that about any other American citizen unless they tell you. Also, an individual who is unaware of atrocities done in his name is morally superior than someone who lies.
If you had strictly stuck to government, you might have gotten more agreement. I sure as hell think that the Vietnam War was more immoral than Iran’s official stance on the Holocaust. Still, the greater evil of one person or nation does not justify an evil of another. Justifying Iran’s lies because of America’s foreign policy would be like saying that it’s OK to mug someone just because the guy across the street killed someone.
Just an FYI: the reason everyone talks more about Hitler than Stalin is because Hitler invaded other countries and killed a bunch of people, Stalin largely mass-murdered his own people. It was the threat of Hitler coming here and killing people that earned him more attention. I’m not saying that it’s right, I’m just explaining why.
Finally, you would definitely be more effective at getting attention for you cause and/or convincing people you are right if you were less confrontational. Rely on fewer insults and less condescending language. It will increase you chances of success.
November 12th, 2006 at 7:18 pm
i am an atheist/agnostic whatever. morals are a funny thing, i don’t believe in absolute morals. as for stalin vs. hitler thats a debatable topic. but what on earth does that have to do with THIS THREAD????? some people never learn…
November 12th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Boris,
There are on asses got kiked, the only asses got kicked are the people who is staying in thier hummers and take thousands of doallars and they are crying, that they don’t have protection, I don’t see that the west kick the Muslims asses.
All I see that small group of Muslims kicked big military country ass(Israel and HuzbAllh), which I don’t support HuzbAllah by the way, and the biggest war machine can’t get controll of Iraq.
Actually I think Muslims kicked some asses if you want to put that way.
November 13th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Muslims always falls the victims of oppression, murder, rape, torture, destruction, dehumanization, degredation, discecration and all inhumanities. But the SAD world of the 21st century is always sayin they are at fault. I do not really what is ruling this world at present. It did not looks or sounds like justice, harmony, tolerance or endurance. Muslims are always humiliated, their books discecrated, their Prophet was recently mocked by drawing his caricatures, their people are being killed, their countries are being invaded by the so-called democrats, their wealth is being stoled, their joy is being destroyed, their women and children are being killed at schools, mosques, streets, in their own houses and everywhere.
I do not actually know where we are heading to. Just of recent Israel made a destructive incursion which was accompanied with a water and air blockades and wilful destruction of Lebanese infrastructures. It was said that the reasons for the incursion is the captured soldiers. If I am opportuned to ask a question I can say that for how long Israel have been holding Lebanese in their dungeons without trial or any attemp to free them? Sometimes ppl used to say that israel does this to protect itself from Hezbollah. So, if israel have a right to protect itself why should not Lebanese and the rest of bordering neighbour?
Presently Israel is carrying a very destructive ride in Bait Hanoun and it already goes with the lives of 18 to above Palestinians. What does that mean. It is being said that israel is reacting from the attacks of Palestinian millitants. If I could remember there was a time before the death of Late Yasser Arafat when Palestinans took about eight months without any kind of attack, rocketing, suicide bombings but still Israel has not stop the attacks on their houses. Fore sure even if Palestinians did not rise a finger to Jews for 10 years nothing will improve for they will depnately continue with the killings. What is the reason of the illegal and apethied wall being constructed currently in the Palestinian region? It looks similar Berlin Wall, the wall of separation. Jews has turned to be something difference from original humans. They behave differently, they act differently.
Americans has assured Palestinians that they will do all they can to bring peace to the region. I am surprice if a country like america which veto the recent resolution in the united nations security council that recommended the condemnation of recent incursion. Is that the policy to install peace? It is really really doubtful
November 13th, 2006 at 11:12 am
“Muslims always falls the victims of oppression, murder, rape, torture, destruction, dehumanization, degredation, discecration and all inhumanities.”
Muslims have done their fair share of damage too. While i dont agree anyone being murdered or raped, it seems like muslims need to learn to deal with insults and mocking. Every culture, religion, and way of life is ridiculed and mocked by someone else, you need to get used to it.
I have to agree with you about isreal though, the US has pretty much given them a free pass to do whatever the hell they want, and it has to stop.
November 13th, 2006 at 11:27 am
I am sorry coz I am not good in English.
Again, why america is invading Muslims countries? Is it because of the so-called terrorism? It is doubtful if you say it is because of terrorism. There is another agender in the mission that has now become exposed by the escalation and delibarate creation of secterian violence by the americans to consolidate their holds and influence in Iraq. Weapons of Mass Destructions, Saddams Dictatorship; Oh! Not really the reasons for the invasion. The reasons are nothing but greed, envey, bloodthirst, oil, imperialism. Wholeheardedly I am not saying all these for creticism but for that it is the truth. I will never trust americans and western world for they are triators. Americans had delibarately toppled the democratically elected Iranian Leader and replace him with Shah who appears to be the most dictator of his time. He was successfully toppled by the Revolution in 1979. That was a great improvement in the Mideast at that time.
Americans are not democrats as they always says. Democracy is the government of the people by the people and to the people. Bush himself is not the democratically elected president of america. The election was rigged to let him come on power. In Iraq nobody can say that the shabby government installed by americans is Iraqis choice. Iraqis choice is peace not democracy. Americans said that they are fighting to free Iraqis from the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. During the Saddams regime nothing like secterian violence has occured. Children go to school, Patients are well attended in the hospitals, there was peace and little development in the country. Today democracy is said to be installed there but everybody in Iraq today is vulnerable. Nobody is safe in Iraq. Just of recent Saddam Hussein is sentanced to hang by Iraqi American installed court of justice. He was sentanced to death for killing 140 of his citizens. Yes! it is really a crime to kill your citizens like Saddam do. But if Saddam is sentanced to hang for killing 14something of his people what would be the justice for bush who is responsible for the lives of approximately 650,000.00 Iraqis? May be he would be sentance to burn to ashes or any judgement that is worst that that. Bush really really deserves a judgement that is brutal than that of bush for he killed 100x of those killed by Saddam Hussein.
November 13th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
You’re right, gaskiya. I’m no happier about it than you are. What is really sad is the number of Americans that still believe that we went into Iraq to fight terrorism.
One of the few points that I really disagree with you on is the ‘rigging’ of the election that brought Bush to power. If elections were rigged to keep Bush and his supporters in power, we would not have seen the sweeping elections of Democrats (Yeah!) this election.
Also, your number is wrong. The mean of the estimated deaths that would not have occurred if there were no invasion is 100,000; which is still a horrific number. The number that you are quoting is from the first Lancet Report done a few years ago that had a very small sample size. The small size created a large confidence interval and you chose the highest number in that interval. There is actually less than 2.5% chance that the real death toll was really that high (note that there is also a 2.5% chance that the actual death toll was less than 30,000. It was a wide confidence interval.
Finally, since I find the death penalty morally wrong, I think neither Saddam nor Bush should be put to death for their crimes.
Other than that, sadly, you are right. America’s foreign policy has been nothing short of evil in many, many instances, including the invasion of Iraq and the installation of dictators (Islamic countries were not the only ones we did that to. We also screwed many Central and South American countries). Please know that some of us do not support America’s imperialistic policies. Furthermore, most Americans simply don’t know the truth. They believe what they are told by politicians who use the people ignorance to push their greedy agendas.
November 13th, 2006 at 7:09 pm
sidfaiwu,
I like what you said, but why don’t I hear people here complain about the Americans, because American didn’t do it, it was their government, so we don’t blame Americans about it, Altough we don’t the American gov. ON the contrary, all Mulsims got blamed for what Usama Bin Laden did, even though he thrown out of his country and he lives in the deseret in the middle of no where and even his followers don’t dare to return to their country, but Bush still live in USA and after all his crimes.
November 13th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Mohamed, Some people blame all muslims for osama bin laden and terrorist attacks, those people are extremely ignorant. As are the muslims who blame all americans or christians for the acts of the administration. But things are looking up, eventhough bush is still in office, the senate and house are now going to be controlled by democrats. This means no more rubber stamp for whatever bush wants.
November 14th, 2006 at 12:35 am
Matt,
I hope that will be the case, I’m afraid that the democrats will be the same, just executing the same agenda, I think days will show us what is going on.
November 14th, 2006 at 4:32 am
I do not thin it will make a difference when democrats took over the senate. Same will continue in adopting the US policies. People have to understand that all the important figures in the US government whether democrats or republicans have same opinions and mission to accomplish. None of them will drop the agenda. So due to this i did not think that democrats will make Bush to change his strategy in Iraq and Mideast. They accuses him of failing to control Iraq not to make the change for the best but to overthraw the republicans and take the control of senate. It is nothing but politics. There will never be a negetive changes in this.
November 14th, 2006 at 5:22 am
While some of those cartoons were disturbing, I think some of them have a good message against the hypocricy of not condemning the israeli state for its actions simply because jews were killed in Germany 60 years ago. Israel is very similar to apartheid and really has no moral highground on nazi-Germany.
November 14th, 2006 at 6:39 am
gaskiya, Its a great thing that democrats have taken control of the senate and house. It means that the american people want change. There are already talks about redeploying american troops. It seems like you really just hate america so much you dont care whos in power.
November 14th, 2006 at 7:22 am
matt
No! It is not a matter of hate. I did not hate Americans. I know that American citizens are good people and they are peaceloving people. I see how they streemed to the street protesting against the invation of Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 and 2003 as well. But the problem is with their leaders. I did not predicted that democrats will not change the strategy of Iraqi war. I even want to see that change for the better of Mideast and rest of the world generally.
November 15th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
They even ridicule their very own Prophet Santa! Some people have no respect.
December 9th, 2006 at 9:07 am
gasmonso now you are also whining, you didnt whine when they made caricatures of other religions (just saying people over reacted), you are a nice example of hypocrits on this planet.
December 9th, 2006 at 10:19 am
Whining you say? I strongly disagree. I’m simply pointing out how stupid and misguided the Muslim leadership was and still is on this issue. For a President of a nation to say that the holocaust didn’t exist is just ignorant. It’s not even a valid point to argue. If he had said the numbers were exagerated, then yes I could see a point. But to deny something that was coraborated by countless thousands of people, if not millions, is just retarded. To argue the existence of something that people alive today personally experienced is retarded. Not to mention it was filmed and thoroughly documented by the Germans. The President of Iran is just a hateful person who openly speaks about the destruction of Jews and has nothing but hatred towards them.
The original caricatures had a real purpose behind them, like many political cartoons, no matter how much in bad taste they were. They pointed out several real issues about Islam, one of which was the use of Muhammed to justify extremism and violence.
So before you call me a whiner anonymously, go educate yourself and grow a pair. I would expect more from somebody out of the Netherlands.
gasmonso
December 9th, 2006 at 11:48 am
“They pointed out several real issues about Islam, one of which was the use of Muhammad to justify extremism and violence.”
Good point man, I love how comedy has been used the world to expose the evils in man.
December 9th, 2006 at 11:25 pm
Shaze do you mean the evil in Muslims or Jewis peopl. Evil in people will continue no matter what religion the beleive in, evil distinguish between good and bad peopl, if there is no evil, there weren’t be a good people.
December 10th, 2006 at 2:49 am
Mohamed
I mean evil in ALL men; ESPECIALLY the devout.
I don’t deny it’s purpose and path in the world of men, only to show the need to shame the vessels of prophecy and ignorance it uses.