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The publishing of anti-Christian caricatures in Iran

The publishing of two anti- Christian caricatures by the Javan Newspaper, a media organization affiliated with the Pasdaran (The Guardian) Militia, is not meant as a humorous depiction, but a direct insult on the Christian beliefs and practices, as Iranian Christian News Agency "Mohabat NEWS " reports.

When Kurt Westergaard, the Danish caricaturist published two drawings of Mohammad, the prophet of Islam, in the Jyllands-Posten magazine he incited such an anger and claims of insult against the sacred beliefs of Islam that Muslim fundamentalists plotted not only to assassinate him, but also orchestrated massive public protests around the world against the author and the Danish government.

From 2007 onward the condition of this Danish man became so intolerable and dangerous that he was unable to go anywhere without ample security protection afforded to him by the Danish government. He had received the Fatwa, or a decree of death, and a reward had been announced for his murder. In a final showdown in 2010, a 29 year old Somali national attacked him at his home and attempted to kill him with an axe.

After the publishing of these offensive caricatures in 2007, the Iranian government leaders and their affiliates in an attempt to reassure the world community of their presence in the political arena of Islamophobia decided to take advantage of the situation and masterminded a massive public rally and march by the military elements that resulted in the burning of many homes and public buildings. The results of all these intentional unrest was the burning of the building and flag of the Danish embassy and the declarations of threats against the East and the West. Starting from Seyed Ali Khamenei to the street corner mullah, they all postured against the drawings of these two caricatures by the Danish artist and defended the prophet of Islam. They were claiming that the West is conspiring to use tools like those offensive caricatures to attack and discredit the sacred beliefs of Islam and its followers.

Now, after 4 years, the tide has turned and the Iranian publication, Javan which is a mouthpiece of the Guardian Militia, headed by Yadollah Javani, has published similarly offensive depictions of Christ and Christians that had they been published in the West, they would have raised their protests and Islamic zeal and would have "dealt with this sacrilege" in the most appropriate manner.

The drawings that appeared in mid-June 2011 are not meant to express the comic and humorous style of the Javan magazine. Rather, it is a tool used by the government to attack and discredit Christianity.

In one of these depictions a sub-titled is added that describes the repentance of a gypsy-style wanderer, which is a direct insult and undermining of Christ and all that Christian ministers. It is interesting that the sub-title continues by claiming that the work of the Christian ministers has lost its lustre and momentum. It appears that this particular caricature is the story of a wandering pastor who has become hopeless and tired of preaching "Repent!" and has a complaint against the public.

Perhaps it is fitting to appeal to the publishers of this anti-Christian magazine and recommend that they listen to the "Repent!" message of the wandering pastor and join him on his Christian bandwagon by receiving Christ in their heart as Lord and Savior.

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TAGS: Iran anti- Christian caricatures insult

[08/01/2011]

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