Introduction
This paper, the third in a series on the image of the Jew in the eyes of Iran's Islamic regime, deals with the Jew as reflected in cartoons published on official Iranian websites, and compares these cartoons with classic antisemitic European caricatures and depictions of Jews from previous centuries. An examination of these Iranian cartoons shows a clear intent to dehumanize Jews, with the aim of humiliating them and stripping them of their humanity – the better to foster emotional distance and alienation from them.
The cartoons depict Jews as or in conjunction with animals known for their cruelty and other negative attributes and for the fear and revulsion they evoke in humans – serpents, swine, wolves, disease-spreading vermin, and more, as if indicating that shunning or even killing them could be considered essential to protect human life.
The Iranian regime draws its inspiration for these cartoons from several sources. First, the motifs of physical characteristics originate without a doubt from classic European antisemitism – for example, the medieval depictions of Judensau, or Jews suckling from a sow, and the serpent, a main motif in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Second, the regime is inspired by Islamic motifs of Jews as descendants of apes and pigs, as mentioned in the Koran. Third is the uniquely Persian and Iranian motif of Jews as dogs – in this culture, dogs are considered not only impure but also untouchable.
The following are examples of various forms of dehumanization of Jews, in cartoons published by official Iranian regime websites.
The Jew As A Serpent
European antisemitic content from the late 18th century to the early 20th century commonly used serpents, symbolizing cunning and treachery. Iranian cartoonists often combine the serpent with the Star of David.
The Inspiration
Dreyfus the Jew. Musee des Horreurs series, France, 1900.[1]
The Iranian Interpretation
An Iranian publication (in MEMRI's possession) that discussed the Protocols of the Elders of Zion showed the alleged Jewish expansion across Muslim lands, portrayed as a serpent with Stars of David (see MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 98, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, An Iranian Perspective, June 7, 2000).
Javan (Iran), August 24, 2012
Javan (Iran), May 16, 2012
Fars (Iran), August 20, 2012
Nassim, (Iran), September 15, 2012
Nassim (Iran), October 27, 2012
Fars (Iran), September 16, 2012
Javan (Iran), May 19, 2012
Javan (Iran), September 9, 2012
Javan (Iran), September 16, 2012
Fars (Iran), December 20, 2012
Fars (Iran), January 30, 2013
"Judensau" – Jew's Sow
Judensau, "Jew's sow," is a visual antisemitic motif from the Middle Ages widely depicted in sculptures and drawings from that time showing Jews suckling from a sow.
The Inspiration
Wittenberg: Wolfgang Meissner (Germany), 1596.[2]
Judensau at Regensburg cathedral, Germany.[3]
The Iranian Interpretation
Rahma, Fars (Iran), September 7, 2012
The Jew As A Worm
Jews have been depicted in Europe as worms eating away at society and humanity from within, causing it to rot. Iranian cartoonists use the same motif with the same intent
The Inspiration
Der Stürmer (Germany), November 1931[4]
The Iranian Interpretation
Javan (Iran), October 3, 2010
Fars (Iran), August 15, 2012
Gerdab (Iran), May 16, 2011
Awalnews.ir (Iran), December 4, 2012
Fars (Iran), November 18, 2012.
The Jew As A Spider
European cartoons showed Jews as spiders ensnaring nations and even the entire world in their web; contemporary Iranian cartoonists have adopted the motif.
The Inspiration
Der Stürmer (Germany), February 1930.[5]
The Iranian Interpretation
Javan (Iran), April 23, 2012
Rahma, Fars (Iran), June 29, 2012
The Jew As An Octopus
As in European depictions, the motif of the Jew as an octopus with tentacles reaching everywhere is used by Iranian cartoonists.
The Inspiration
Antisemitic cartoon by Josef Plank, circa 1938[6]
The Iranian Interpretation
Qodsna (Iran), November 11, 2012
Jews As Vermin
In Europe, Jews were commonly depicted as vermin – disease-spreading nocturnal creatures evoking fear and revulsion. The Iranian regime today is doing the same.
The Inspiration
"Rats. Destroy Them" 1940s poster from occupied Denmark[7]
Das Kleine Blatt (Vienna), February 2, 1939.[8]
The Iranian Interpretation
Javan (Iran), August 6, 2012
Fars (Iran), August 18, 2012
Jam News (Iran), July 3, 2012
Fars (Iran), March 25, 2013
Fars (Iran), November 18, 2012
Javan (Iran), May 17, 2011
Jam News (Iran), April 17, 2012
Fars (Iran), April 12, 2012
Fars (Iran), August 26, 2012
The Jew As A Wolf
Iranian cartoonists have adopted the European depiction of the Jew as a voracious wolf.
The Inspiration
Der Stürmer (Germany), 1943.[9]
The Iranian Interpretation
Zitova.ir (Iran), May 20, 2012
Fars (Iran), June 5, 2012
The Jews As Descendants Of Apes And Pigs
Iranian antisemitic cartoons also use the Islamic antisemitic motif depicting Jews as the descendants of apes and pigs, from the Koran (5:60).
Rooz (Iran), February 2, 2013
Fars (Iran), September 16, 2012
The Jew As A Dog
Iranian cartoons show Jews as dogs; dogs are considered unclean and untouchable in Iranian society.
Fars (Iran), December 3, 2012
IRNA (Iran), September 19, 2012
Fars (Iran), November 14, 2011
Aviny News (Iran), January 29, 2012
Fars (Iran), April 16, 2013
* E. Zigron is a Research Fellow at MEMRI.
[2] Einblattdruck mit Darstellung der Wittenberger Judensau (Wittenberg: Wolfgang Meissner 1596), http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1284&context=etd
[4] A "Jewish Worm" eats away at the apple of the "German economy." Text: "When something is rotten, the Jew is behind it."
[5] A "Jewish spider" catches Germans in its web and "sucks them out"; the cartoon is titled "The Sucked-Out ones." http://www.antisemitism.org.il/eng/Arab_Anti_Semitism
[8] Jewish rats swept out of Germany are refused admission to the democratic countries that are attacking the Nazis' antisemitic policies. http://notthelatestnews.blogspot.co.il/2012/02/nazi-editorial-cartoon-on-jews-1939.html
[9] The drawing, titled "Philosophy of the Wolf," shows the wolf of "Culture Bolshevism" with Star of David eyes devouring a sheep. Text: "Rebbich, a sheep only knows what happens when it is devoured." http://www.antisemitism.org.il/eng/Arab_Anti_Semitism
