Lampooning Candidates in Iraq

In the rough and tumble world of Iraqi politics, where assassinations are an ever-present threat, it is the old-fashioned art of the satirical political cartoon that still has the ability to cut deeply.

Across Iraq, residents have been receiving scores of cartoons lampooning both leading national candidates and local politicians. While the newspapers run daily cartoons, the most vicious attacks come via text messages on cell phones and emails. They are often sent anonymously and their origin is hard to trace – not surprisingly given that the subjects of the derision are powerful figures who might not be able to find the humor in the pieces.

Below are several of the most popular cartoons that have been making their way into inboxes across the country.
NYT