http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060817/wl_nm/iran_holocaust_reaction_dc_1 This is just disgusting to me and reaffirms my belief about how anti-semitic the rest of the world really is Jewish leaders, Paris slam Iran Holocaust cartoon show JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli government, Jewish groups and the mayor of Paris on Thursday condemned an Iranian exhibition of cartoons on the Nazi Holocaust, accusing Tehran of spreading hatred and trivializing the murder of six million Jews. ADVERTISEMENT Organizers of Iran's International Holocaust Cartoon's Contest said the museum exhibit, which has drawn more than 200 entries, aims to challenge Western taboos about the discussing the Holocaust. Israeli government spokesman Gideon Meir called on the international community "to express disgust from such an anti-Semitic and inhuman event." Yosef Lapid, chairman of the council of the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, said: "The exhibit not only is horrific propaganda that supports Holocaust denial, it also paves the road to justifying genocide of the Jews in Israel." Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has drawn international condemnation for dismissing the Holocaust as a "myth." Nazi Germany killed six million European Jews in World War Two. Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel's destruction. Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe condemned the display in a letter to Iran's ambassador, saying it "intended to mock the tragedy of the (Holocaust) and to trivialize a new anti-Semitic bid under the false pretext of art and freedom of speech." France is home to western Europe's largest Jewish and Muslim communities. It is a crime in European countries such as France, Germany and Austria to deny the Holocaust. "At a time when violence and war should lead everyone toward a willingness for dialogue, appeasement and tolerance, such a step serves, on the contrary, motivations dominated by hatred," Delanoe, a Socialist, said. Russia's Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations urged Muslims around the world "to reject the blasphemy of political intriguers and say in their very hearts, 'Keep your hands off the memory of the Holocaust's victims."' Shimon Samuels of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Paris said Iranian's Holocaust cartoon exhibit was part of the "Iranian drive toward its own aggrandizement on the back of the Jews." Salomon Korn, chairman of the Jewish community in the German city of Frankfurt, said he thought the exhibition was "pathologically crude." "Ahmadinejad is demanding from the West what he does not allow himself, and of which he perhaps has no idea, namely tolerance," Korn said. Iran's best-selling newspaper, Hamshahri, launched a competition in February for the best cartoon about the Holocaust in retaliation for the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in Danish and other European newspapers. Those images of the Prophet sparked attacks on European embassies in Muslim nations, including missions in Iran. Samuels said a member of the Simon Wiesenthal Center submitted two cartoons to Iran's competition, depicting Ahmadinejad as Hitler. Samuels said the cartoons were sent back. (Additional reporting by Kerstin Gehmlich in Paris and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow)
Just because some crackhead Islamic fundamentalist is anti semitic theres no need to say that the rest of the world hates jews also.
This is what the Iranian leadership promised to do in retaliation for the Denmark cartoons, remember? Ahmedinijad said that he would hold a 'contest' to make cartoons about the Holocaust to test the Western world and see if they would be as tolerant of cartoons about Jews as they are about Muslims. Very distasteful, there is no need to be a jerk... What is this, a freakin' piss match? What happened to taking the 'higher road'? Is this what humanity is reduced to now, acting like a bunch of kids? How depressing!
Isn't Iran's actions old news? It's like a Republican going to Bob Jones or having a crack pot Republican senator talk about the glory days of segregation every other year. They say they don't stand on these issues, but every once and a while, they let the people who care know.
Ahmadinejad and his clan do not represent the the views of the majority of iranians. ahmadinejad was put in power by a Revolutionary guards rigging the election. the man at the start of the revolution used to interogate and kill anyone associate with the former regime. the man is a cold blooded killer.
Why didn't they rig it in favor of Rafsanjani, then? Isn't he more so of the 'establishment' guy that most predicted would win the last elections?
It's good to see Iranians excercising that little freedom of speech thing. Now if only they could be a little more constructive with it unless they truly aspire to be top notch Danish cartoonists.
Because Rafsanjani has tried on many occasions to overthrow the Supreme leader. however the IRGC head hauchos and ahmadinejad are loyal to the Suprme leader.
I understand, but from what I read about Rafsanjani, he has some 'fat cats' who are loyal to him and he's an establishment guy through and through. On the other hand, wasn't Ahmedinijad given a hard time in getting people he wanted appointed to positions in his government?
Rafsanjani is a very, very slick operator. you have to understand, if anyone else tried to overthrow the Suprem leader , they would have been dead by now. but this man runs a mafia of criminals. he has the backing of the wealthy and some reformist. the money goes through him.
What i saw of the cartoons they were not funny at all, there only goal was to make people upset(kinda like the one's in denmark). I do not understand why people do these sort of things. It is pathetic. if they were offended by the cartoons in Denmark, why would you make cartoons to get back on them. Just try to be the better man and Ignore them. mrdave543, i do not think i should say this to you but: These people do NOT represent the world. Why do you immediatly say the ENTIRE world is Anti-semetic?? I'll just ignore it from now on. Some people are not able to have rational discussion, and feel the need to make Ridiculous statements.
BTW, i must say you're Knowlige of the politics in iran is very, very good. it is a very refreshing to see someone who dosent see us iranians as camal riders or sand *****s. kudos to you.
The Irony here is that the iranian people are the most west friendly in the entier Midd-east. iranians do not hate jews or isreal.
I think this is really being done to demonstate how it's ok to rip muslims apart under the guise of free speach but it's not ok to do that to Jews. I actually have to tip my hat to Iran on this one for showing up the hyprocrisy in the west. You can defile Allah under protection of "free speach" but you can't defile Jews no matter what.
If random Jews start rioting and start sending death threats, then I'll have equal contempt for their actions as I did when the whole mess started.
You're freaking ridiculous. Denying the holocaust and supporting genocide and hatred is not akin to 'defiling'. And this exhibit was created by the leader of a nation? It's so far bayond the pale ... you obviously have a problem with Jews.
