Iran launches contest in solidarity with Palestine

In solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine, Iran’s Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization has organized an international cartoon, caricature and poster contest.

Moroccan cartoonist Naji Benaji, who is also a founding member of a caricature school in the Tunisian city of Sfax, Brazilian cartoonist Silvano Mello and Indonesian cartoonist Jitet Kustana will be serving as the jury members of the “Palestine Is Not Alone International Cartoon, Caricature and Poster Contest”.

According to the Art Bureau director Mohammad-Mehdi Dadman, “The contest is slated as a forerunner for the new activities of the bureau to help develop its international activities.”

“The bureau is ready to provide artists who are active on the resistance frontline with all the knowledge and experience we have accumulated over the past 40 years,” said Dadman, adding that, “The bureau will make its best efforts to help establish an artistic movement against the Zionist regime so that the Palestinian artists can better form an artistic battle.”

In a media interview, the director of the bureau’s Visual Arts Office, Masoud Shojaeee-Tabatabaee, also expressed views on this contest that is going to be held at an international level.

“The issue of Palestine and its identity is one of the major topics during these days when deals between some Arab states and Israel are being framed to look normal, while people and artists from the countries whose governments are trying to normalize their relations disagree with these relations,” he said.

Pointing to the recent republication of cartoons insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Shojaeee-Tabatabaee also said, “They are intended to create and promote hatred, and hurt the hearts of millions of Muslims across the world.”

Due to the high risk of spreading the coronavirus, the contest will be held online; and each submitted work will be uploaded on the Irancartoon website.

MM/FM