Marvel Comics artist hid anti-semitic symbols in latest X-Men issue

Marvel Comics is taking disciplinary action against Indonesian artist Ardian Syaf for inserting pro-Islam and antisemitic references into a comic book.

Syaf included hidden references in X-Men Gold's first issue. The references related to religious and political issues surrounding Indonesia's recent elections.

The elections were polarising and were bitterly contested between Chinese Christian incumbent, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, and his Muslim rivals, who won with the support of hardline Islamists.

Religious groups in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country had demanded that Purnama, known by his nickname Ahok, be prosecuted for allegedly insulting the Quran while campaigning in elections for the Jakarta governorship.



The governor had accused his opponents of using a Quranic verse, which suggests Muslims should not choose non-Muslims as leaders, in order to trick people into voting against him.

In one scene in the X-Men comic, Syaf drew Collosus, a member of the X-men playing baseball and wearing a shirt that read 'QS 5:51'. This referred to the Quranic verse, which according to interpretations prohibits Muslims from electing a Christain or Jewish leader.

In another scene, Kitty Pryde, one of Marvel's prominent Jewish heroes speaks in front of a crowd about her being the new leader of the X-men. On a building in the background, the number 212 can be seen. The number refers to the day a huge protest was conducted in Jakarta in 2016 for the arrest of Ahok over allegations of blasphemy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSpMSBnjLhj/

Syaf gave a statement concerning the artwork on his Facebook page.

“The meaning behind the numbers; perhaps some will understand them. If they don't that's okay,” he wrote. “You can comment on it because it's something I can't control. My advice is, although you disagree with me, please say it in a polite way.”



In a Facebook chat with a Marvel fan, he stated he had already explained the meaning of the numbers to Marvel.

“I don’t hate Jews or Christians. I worked with them for 10 years. Many of them are good friends of mine,” he stated.

“The number is an act of peace in 2-12-2016 [to protest] a governor that committed blasphemy to our Holy Book because police never take him like [other] blasphemers […] QS 5:51 is the verse he mocked, this [holds a] very special memory for me.”

Syaf was criticised heavily on social media, saying what he did was 'unprofessional' and contrary to X-men's message of tolerance and inclusiveness.

https://twitter.com/jetsniper/status/850813307506372609

I like Ardian Syaf's work, but I think what he has done in the recent X-Men book is very disrespectful and unprofessional. ☹️

— Ario Anindito (@arioanin) April 8, 2017

Following public uproar, Marvel Comics said in a statement that it will remove the controversial artwork and take disciplinary action against Syaf.

In its statement, Marvel said, “The mentioned artwork in X-Men Gold #1 was inserted without knowledge behind its reported meanings. These implied references do not reflect the views of the writer, editors or anyone else at Marvel and are in direct opposition of the inclusiveness of Marvel Comics and what the X-Men have stood for since their creation.”

It added that the artwork "will be removed from subsequent printings, digital versions, and trade paperbacks."

This story originally appeared on The Jakarta Post