Iran demands German apology for soccer cartoon
Germany's Iranian embassy is demanding that an official written apology be made for a cartoon, published in Berlin paper Der Tagesspiegel, depicting four members of the Iranian soccer team dressed as suicide bombers standing next to four German soldiers. The caption printed above the cartoon read as follows: "Why the German army should definitely be used during the soccer World Cup!" The Iranian embassy has threatened legal action if such an apology is not 'forthcoming'.
The cartoon reflects a debate currently going on in Germany over whether the army should assist with security at the upcoming soccer World Cup this summer.
The Iranian embassy sent a letter to Der Tagesspiegel describing the cartoon as offensive and asserting the paper was "using sport to make a political point in an irresponsible and immoral way."
Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, managing editor of the newspaper, expressed regret at the reaction to the cartoon, but stated he felt an apology was unnecessary.
The author of the cartoon has reportedly received death threats.
Source: Reuters
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