MOSCOW (Sputnik), Ekaterina Blinova — The second International Holocaust cartoon contest-2015 dedicated to the theme of Holocaust denial has kicked off in Iran, organized by Iran's House of Cartoon and the Sarcheshmeh Cultural Complex. Allegedly, the organizers launched the project as a response to the release of caricatures depicting the Prophet Mohammed by the French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
In accordance with the teaching of Islam, any visual depiction of Muhammad is considered exceptionally offensive for Muslims, let alone the publishing of caricatures of the prophet. Masud Shojaei-Tabatabaii, the director of Iran's House of Cartoon, encouraged cartoonists to take part in the contest, offering a cash prize of $12,000 for the first place, $8,000 for the second and $5,000 for the third place. The deadline for submissions has been set for April 1, 2015.
In a statement published on the official site Masud Shojaei-Tabatabaii elaborated that the contest is not aimed at Holocaust denial but is meant to raise the burning issues of the Israeli suppression of Palestine as well as the problem of freedom of speech in the West.
