Art Unleashed: International Contest Fights Social Media Censorship Through 'Terror Online'

In recent years, social media has witnessed unusual trends, particularly the systematic removal of figures associated with the Axis of Resistance. This issue was highlighted by Masoud Shojai Tabatabai, the secretary of the inaugural International Cartoon and Poster Contest titled “Terror Online,” during a press conference in Tehran, as reported by ISNA.

The primary objective of this event is to fight against artwork censorship and to showcase authentic visual narratives representing the resistance culture by inviting both Iranian and international artists.

“We chose the theme ‘online assassination of Resistance heroes’ for the poster section because, for various reasons, it has become increasingly difficult to present images and narratives related to key figures of the Axis of Resistance. We are confronting a form of cyber terrorism that is growing daily, with a significant portion of global violence now occurring not on traditional battlefields but in the digital realm,” stated Shojai Tabatabai.

He further noted, “The deletion and blocking of pages and content related to Resistance leaders, including martyrs such as General Qassem Soleimani, Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Ismail Haniyeh, exemplify this troubling trend. This is not merely a technical issue; it’s an attempt to erase narratives and censor the historical memory of nations.”

“These circumstances led us to the conclusion that organizing such an event could provide a platform for both domestic and international artists to present works addressing cyber issues, digital censorship, and the true representation of the Axis of Resistance. In the cartoon section, we emphasized the crucial narrative and critical aspects of this art form,” the secretary explained.

Shojai Tabatabai added that content restrictions on major platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, which claim to defend freedom of expression, made the need for such an event even more pressing. He highlighted the impressive participation of artists, stating, “More than 426 artists submitted 1,835 works from 61 countries, which places this event among the most prestigious international competitions.”

Key statistics from the event include:

Asia: 270 artists participated.
Europe: 85 artists contributed.
Latin America: A significant number of artists took part.
Africa and North America: Artists from these regions also joined.
Iran: Led participation with 175 artists, followed by Indonesia and Turkey.

Regarding the selection of judges, he shared, “Naturally, we invited judges from countries with significant participation. For the cartoon and caricature section, we brought in experienced judges from Turkey, where participation was notably strong. Given Indonesia’s substantial involvement, we also included one of that country’s leading figures in this field as a juror. Additionally, due to the meaningful participation from Latin America, we invited a renowned artist and graphic designer from the region to serve on the jury. The presence of judges from three continents added considerable international credibility to the competition.”

The domestic jury featured Masoud Nejabati as the head, alongside Abbas Naseri and Mohammad Hossein Niroumand.

“The prizes were one of the strengths of the competition. In both the cartoon and poster sections, the first prize was €2,000, the second prize was €1,500, and five €500 awards were designated for each section. In total, €14,000 in cash prizes were awarded to the selected works. This level of valuation elevated the status of the festival among international events,” remarked Shojai Tabatabai.

He concluded by announcing the final ceremony of the event, which is set to take place on January 5, 2026, at the Art Bureau in Tehran, with attendance from international judges and prominent global figures.

Masoud Nejabati, head of the jury, also addressed the audience, stating that the competition aimed to identify graphic designers aligned with the Resistance culture on a global scale, an area that has long been overlooked.

He emphasized that Shojai Tabatabai has worked tirelessly for years in the field of cartoons and caricature, establishing a global network of artists, but noted that a similar network has yet to form in graphic design.

“As a result,” he said, “in critical moments when we want to organize a global event, we find ourselves with limited contacts, primarily among designers from neighboring countries collaborating with the Axis of Resistance.”

“Initially, the event was intended to focus solely on cartoons, but we requested the inclusion of the graphic design (poster) section to discover new designers. Many of this year’s participants were new names to us, but these initial steps are highly impactful,” Nejabati noted.

On the judging policy, he explained, “The number and quality of the submissions exceeded our expectations. However, we adopted a strict approach, disallowing works produced using artificial intelligence. Our aim was not to overwhelm the exhibition with numerous works but to select distinguished and impactful pieces. Out of 535 submissions, only 56 works passed the first stage. These works were evaluated once more, and ultimately a limited and standard number were chosen for exhibition and final judging.”

The head of the jury stated, “Several key criteria guided our selection process, including clarity of message, creativity, ideation, composition, and technique. What mattered most to us was that viewers should receive the artwork’s message without ambiguity.”

Nejabati added that most reputable international festivals are held regularly, encouraging established designers and major brands to participate. “This is the first edition, and in my view, the results, especially given the level of international participation, are acceptable. If we continue this event annually with either a fixed theme or coherent, well-defined themes, the number of participants and the quality of works will increase significantly.”