As may approaches,
organizers in Tehran will host the Second International Holocaust Cartoon
Contest. Given the terror that the Holocaust embodied, an exhibition, featuring
some of the 839 pieces of “artwork” submitted by artist from more than 50
countries, can draw much attention. An event so horrific in which the Nazi
regime systematically killed more than 6 million Jews, along with millions of
Roma, homosexuals, political dissidents and other undesirables, in addition to current
fears of global anti-Semitism, an event of so called “mockery” can be seen as truly
unacceptable. However, their stated goals is to provoke Western sensibilities,
particularly in response to satirical cartoons concerning Islam. They hope to
display the west’s double standard behavior towards freedom of expression, as
it permits to mock religious sanctities. Although this can be seen as a direct
Iranian anger from the Charlie Hebdo publications in France, the first contest
was held in 2006, featuring motifs and themes of Holocaust denial. It also
illustrated grievances in the Middle East over Israel's treatment of
Palestinians living under occupation. A prompt for this year's contest, include
questions such as these: "If the West says that freedom of speech has no
borders then why don't they let historians and experts properly research the
Holocaust?", and, "Why should the Palestinian people pay for the
Holocaust?" Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations responded to this by
stating, "It ridicules one of the darkest events in human history, and it
cheapens the death of millions of Jews who were murdered." The former
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad portrayed Holocaust denial as an argument
in his anti- Israel rhetoric. His successor, however, Hassan Rouhani, described
the Holocaust as "reprehensible and condemnable" even though he did
not indicate whether followed the mainstream historical opinion on the topic.
Rouhani is now in the process of negotiations aimed at sealing a deal on Iran’s
controversial nuclear program; but as the article states, “an event that is as
provocative as this cartoon exhibition won't
endear Iran to an already skeptical West.”
Although I find it truly
a disgrace to organize such an exhibition, I understand their claimed purpose
to provoke western sensibilities and point out a double standard occurrence.
However, I do not approve of political cartoons creating satirical portrayals
of figures that may be considered holy to others; but I do have to say, there
is a difference between denying a genocide and creating more satire. In my past
blogs, it is evident that after any genocide, there are people who deny them.
Whether this be due to a religious or political stand point, or lack of
education, this is a modern day occurrence. Further, it is something that must
be eliminated, and especially, something that should not be provoked in
exhibitions as this. Ridicule of millions of death is never acceptable, and in
Iran’s current political state, I do not think this is a smart move.
Jordanna Gisser
April 8, 2015
8:36 AM
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