The competition, formally known as the DAESH International Cartoon and Caricature Contest, launched in February, entered its second stage last week. On Sunday, exhibitions displaying the best cartoons opened in several cultural centres across the Iranian capital of Tehran.
Iran holds anti-ISIS cartoon contest
— Negar Mortazavi نگار مرتضوی (@NegarMortazavi) May 26, 2015
(Taking the war to the next level...) pic.twitter.com/oquQtNaSKg
A total of 280 works out of approximately 800 submissions were put on display at the Aftab, Arasbaran, Bahman and Osveh cultural centres. The House of Cartoon received submissions from all over the world, including Australia, Brazil, China, India and the United Kingdom. In total, more than 40 countries took part in the competition.
#Iran start (#IS #ISIL) #ISIS #Cartoon exhibition in #Teheran work from 40 countries displayed http://t.co/AwpjsPn7ub pic.twitter.com/dH149qVZI1
— Willem Post 🇳🇱👷🛠 (@WMPost) May 25, 2015
Some artists participating in the contest opted to use nicknames out of security concerns, noted Mohammad Habibi, the executive secretary of the exhibition, adding that many in Iraq and Syria were afraid to enter the competition.
The winner will be announced during the closing ceremony of the contest on May 31, according to the organizers. They then plan to exhibit the works in Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.
Iranian Nima Shahmiri's cartoon, Intl ISIS Daesh Cartoon Contest in Tehran Iran. See gallery http://t.co/WCIChoTPVV pic.twitter.com/1LQOrF4W57
— Maria Afsharian (@MariaAfsharian) May 25, 2015
Islamic State, also known by its Persian name of Daesh, is currently controlling almost half of Syria and a third of Iraq. The group has made major gains in May, including seizing the cities of Ramadi and Palmyra, despite a US-led international airstrike campaign and an offensive launched by Iraq's security forces assisted by the Shia militias.
