Germany Condemns Cartoon Competition in Iran Depicting Holocaust

Germany said the competition sows hatred and deepens divisions in the Middle East.

Photo from the competition on display. (Photo courtesy: The Tower’s Twitter Page)

• Germany condemned a cartoon contest in Iran depicting the Holocaust on Wednesday, saying it sows hatred and deepens divisions in the Middle East. It was organised by non-governmental bodies with support from Iran’s hard-liners.
  

• A previous contest in 2006 got a boost from then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who called the Holocaust a “myth.” German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said that it was the murder of 6 million people for which Germans bear guilt and responsibility, and it can’t be ridiculed.
  

• Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier made clear during a February visit to Tehran that no further such competition should take place, and called the incident “regrettable”.

(With inputs from AP.)