Professor Hasan Bulkhari, a senior cultural adviser to Iran's Education Ministry, recently stated that the animated series 'Tom and Jerry' was created as part of a Jewish conspiracy.

Speaking on a televised program on Iranian television, the advisor explained, "The mouse is the wise and smart one, and he violently beats the poor cat.

And yet, this cruelty does not cause you to despise the mouse. He looks so nice, and he is smart."

"The Jews were degraded and termed 'dirty mice.' 'Tom and Jerry' was made in order to change the Europeans' perception of mice. One of terms used was 'dirty mice.'"

"It should be noted that mice are very cunning ... and dirty."

"The program was produced in an attempt to erase the image of the mouse from the minds of European children and to show that the mouse is not dirty and that he even has nice characteristics," he pointed out.

"The Jewish Walt Disney Company gained international fame with this cartoon," he said.

"If you study European history, you will see who was the main power in hoarding money and wealth in the 19th century," continued Bolkhari. "In most cases, it is the Jews. Perhaps that was one of the reasons which caused Hitler to begin the anti-Semitic trend, and then the extensive propaganda about the crematoria began. ... Some of this is true. We do not deny all of it."

Created in 1939 creation by Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna, the MGM series was launched as World War II began.

Over 200 cartoons featuring Tom and Jerry were created, and the cartoon remains popular to this day.

© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)