CNN reports on Iran's Cartoon Contest to make fun of ISIS
Yes, the same country that hosted the Holocaust cartoon contest turns its attentions to ISIS.
While many cartoonists were pleased to participate, some of them were apparently a little spooked, as well, and traveled under false names.
Also, if they have cartoons on other topics, the cartoonists might have been well advised to leave them at home. Iran is listed by the Committee to Protect Journalists as one of the 10 most censored countries and one of the 10 biggest jailers of journalists worldwide.
One would expect there is a limited range of material that would qualify. Cartoons that depict ISIS as a tool of America should be safe bets (Mark's "
Who Created ISIS" could work).
More daring, some of the stuff in this PRI report, which I'll let you check out for yourself. And a highlight:
Cagle blogged about how his cartoon wasn't likely to be chosen because its irreverence would never be tolerated by Iranian officials. He also noted how he got advice about how to enter the contest from a friend, Nik Kowsar, an Iranian cartoonist who was imprisoned in Iran for drawing cartoons the clerics didn't like. Kowsar is now one of several Iranian cartoonists who were persecuted by Iranian authorities and forced into exile.
And they do imprison folks for the simplest cartoon criticisms.
Take action to free cartoonist Atena Farghadani. Thanks!