IRAN: "PIRATES OF CARIBBEAN" A ZIONIST CONSPIRACY!

Iranian TV: Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest' is a Pawn of the Zionist Lobby to Gain Cultural Control (MEMRI)
The following are excerpts from an Iranian TV report on Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean," which asserts that the film is a "Zionist" conspiracy to exert cultural influence by the Disney Company. The report aired on the Iranian news channel (IRINN) on July 27, 2006.

Anchor: "Zionist ideology uses all means to impose its cultural control. Cinema, as an attractive and popular form of art, has always interested the Zionist circles."

Reporter: "The hot news of cinema circles worldwide is: The Pirates of the Caribbean attack the silver screen. The example of Pirates of the Caribbean - Hollywood's latest effort to gain control - is all the more striking if we bear in mind the name of its producer: the Walt Disney company. Disney and its productions have been associated, more than anything, with the Zionist lobby in Hollywood. In 1995, when the pro-Zionist Jews were 2.5% of America's population, they made up 7.7% of Disney's board of directors. This clearly influences the content of this large company's productions, as well as its policies and guidelines. The Aladdin animated film series is one example of Disney creations that present Arabs in a negative light.

"In 2004, Disney supported the Bush administration's expansionist policies, and refrained from screening the film Fahrenheit 9/11, which harshly criticized Bush's policy in attacking Iraq. This film, which won the Palme d'Or award at the Cannes film festival, became the bestselling documentary in the history of the film industry. Disney's move brought it nothing but disgrace.

"In any event, Zionism is not restricted to the capitalistic weapons companies, such as Lockheed and the banks that support it. Cinema is considered another, subtle, weapon in the hands of those who support this corrupt ideology. In Hollywood, Disney is the manufacturer of this weapon, and Pirates of the Caribbean is its newest ammunition.

"Hamid-Reza Modaghegh, IRINN, Tehran." Iranian Channel 4, February 16, 2006

Similar assertions, about the "Tom and Jerry Show," were made by Iranian professor Hasan Bolkhari, during a film seminar; his comments were aired February 16, 2006 by Iranian Channel 4. Bolkhari, who is a member of the Film Council of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), is also cultural advisor to the Iranian Education Ministry, and active on behalf of interfaith issues.