Former Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi Condemns Iranian Regime’s Holocaust Cartoon Contest

“As the third annual Holocaust Cartoon Contest winners were announced, the Iranian regime lost yet another opportunity to take a step toward reform and away from extremism.

“It is extremely alarming that the Iranian regime continues to openly endorse anti-Semitism, promote Holocaust denial, and threaten the security of Israel. We have witnessed this antagonistic behavior time and again from Iran’s leaders - from engraving ‘Israel Must be Wiped off the Earth’ in Hebrew on its ballistic missiles, to rewarding the families of every Palestinian ‘martyr’ with $7,000. It is clear that the regime’s militant and extremist nature remains unchanged despite the nuclear accord.

“Western leaders and companies considering business in Iran must be aware that entering into an agreement with a government that incites this kind of hatred will inevitably lead to irreparable reputational damage with investors and the international community.

“I am extremely disappointed in Prime Minister Renzi and the Italian government for conspicuously failing to denounce the Holocaust Cartoon Contest. Italy’s leaders must recognize they are jeopardizing our country’s global standing. Instead, they should use this as an opportunity to show Iran we will not tolerate this kind of extremism by withholding business from a regime that promotes a hateful and dangerous agenda.”

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