A billboard in the Iranian city of Shiraz meant to commemorate the country’s eight-year-long war with Iraq appeared to feature an image of Israeli troops.
The embarrassing mistake of the local administration has already drawn attention in the blogosphere and media once again showing how a neglect of some middle-level staffers may lead to notable consequences.
Mission Completed: Shiraz, Iran
A tribute to the martyrs.
Pictured: IDF Soldiers.متشکرم! pic.twitter.com/nB416OqRUf
— The Mossad (@TheMossadIL) September 26, 2018
It’s interesting to note that the original photo included a female soldier, who was removed for the post. The original background was also replaced So, it’s hard to suggest that the “designer” of this poster did not understand what he or she was doing.
For the record, this is the original picture.
Apparently whoever made the billboard finds women more offensive than Israelis. pic.twitter.com/Qmoug2smDp— The Mossad (@TheMossadIL) 26 September 2018
After the billboard appeared to be in center of a media scandal, it was removed.
تابلو تبلیغات اسرائیل در شیراز به زیر کشیده شد .
تمام. pic.twitter.com/kI1Y5Oix4V— سيد علي موسوي (@dr_moosavi) September 26, 2018
Iran is currently in the middle of its Sacred Defense Week, a week-long holiday meant to commemorate the Iran-Iraq War (1980 until 1988).
I wouldn’t read anything into this. Graphic Designer was just using stock photos or more likely searching for suitable images on the internet. That is pretty standard. They probably didn’t even know the soldiers were Israeli. Likely to be a quite junior person a couple years out of art school, working in the PR department somewhere. Unfortunate for their career prospects though.
It is difficult to distinct Khazar soldiers from Persian soldiers, if they have their european looking faces turned back. Yes, Khazaria Empire was in Europe, so their part in European footbal matches and EuroVision is OK