French City Removes Ad Comparing World Leaders to Trash After Iranian Backlash

A controversial waste separation campaign in Béziers featuring images of Khamenei, Putin, and Kim Jong Un prompted diplomatic protests from Iran.

The French city of Béziers launched a provocative campaign to promote waste separation, using images of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un on posters with the slogan: 'Don't forget to sort your trash.'
Iran's government condemned the campaign as offensive and urged the French government to prevent similar actions in the future.
Béziers Mayor Robert Ménard, known for his far-right affiliations, initially defended the campaign as humorous and intended to draw attention to recycling efforts.
Following Iran's diplomatic protest, city workers removed the posters as a precaution to avoid further escalation.
Ménard acknowledged the backlash and stated that while the campaign targeted 'dictators,' the city decided to take the Iranian reaction seriously and mitigate potential risks.