Top Saudi Education Official Fired After Yoda Shows Up In History Textbook

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Mohammed bin Attia Al-Harthi, the Saudi Arabian education ministry’s undersecretary for curriculum and education programs, was fired this week after an edited image of Yoda, the iconic “Star Wars” character, showed up in a history textbook, Saudi-owned television channel Al Arabiya reported on Monday.

Per the report, education minister Ahmed Al-Issa also fired “others responsible for the mishap who reviewed and approved” the image of the late King Faisal, then a prince, signing the United Nations charter in 1945 with Yoda by his side.

Al-Issa apologized for the error on Twitter.

Saudi artist Shaweesh created the image as part of a series superimposing “U.S. cultural symbols ranging from Captain America to Darth Vader onto famous historical events,” according to his website.

Shaweesh told the BBC it was not clear how his work ended up in the school textbook, but said he did not mean to offend with the edited image, and chose Yoda to accompany the monarch because their characters were both “wise, strong and always calm.”

“Everyone loves King Faisal here, even the younger generations,” he said. “Someone should have checked the image before printing.”

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  1. I don’t know who Betsey will be quicker to hire–the guy who got fired(incompetent) or the guy who fired him(fanatical). They’ll both fit in.
    "Everyone loves King Faisal here, even the younger generations,” he said.
    I’m sure any Saudi citizen who didn’t love King Faisal would immediately tell everybody. The rulers there are always open to constructive input.

  2. Avatar for j.dave j.dave says:

    When the thread-winning comment is also the lede, our work here is done.

    Well played, Esme!

  3. This is why you never use placeholder images or text. They get published.

  4. Placing this image in a history textbook in Alabama gets you elected to the U.S. Senate.

  5. Ixnay. Jeebus isn’t carrying.

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