Pens and pencils were the weapons of choice for artists taking part in an anti-Islamic State cartoon and caricature competition held in Iran.

More than 1,000 images were submitted to Iran’s House of Cartoon competition and 270 were put on display at an exhibition on Sunday.

Artists from more than 40 countries, including the UK and Australia, entered the Daesh (ISIS) International Cartoon and Caricature Contest.

Evocative: This is one of more than 1,000 entries to the Iranian anti-ISIS competition launched in February
The submitted artwork depicts the terrorists' most horrific crimes, including ISIS' attacks on homosexuals

The submitted artwork depicts the terrorists’ most horrific crimes, including ISIS’ attacks on homosexuals

An Islamic State commander removes people's brains and replaces them with explosives in this cartoon

An Islamic State commander removes people’s brains and replaces them with explosives in this cartoon

Heartless: Men leave behind their hearts and their brains when they become terrorists, according to this artist1

Heartless: Men leave behind their hearts and their brains when they become terrorists, according to this artist

Death: Sculls and the word Daesh - the Persian name for Islamic State - are portrayed in this piece of art

Death: Sculls and the word Daesh – the Persian name for Islamic State – are portrayed in this piece of art

The images, some of them extremely emotive and shocking, have gone on display at cultural centres in Tehran, Iran’s capital.

Graphic artist Massoud Shojaei Tabatabali, head of the House of Cartoon, told Press TV they now have plans to hold the exhibition in other countries like Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

‘In order to reveal the true nature of ISIL we decided to hold this contest and have people submit their cartoons or caricatures,’ he said.

‘ISIL tries to associate itself with Islam, but in essence has no idea about Islam.’

The contest, launched in February, focuses on the terror group’s horrific crimes, including beheadings, attacks on homosexuals, suicide bombings and the destruction of ancient artefacts.

The artwork will be judged by a team of experts and the winners will be announced on May 31.

Fears: The terrorists might not be afraid of spiders and scorpions but they are scared of the power of writing, this artist claims

Fears: The terrorists might not be afraid of spiders and scorpions but they are scared of the power of writing, this artist claims

They could soon be shown in Iraq and Syria

The images have gone on display at cultural centres in Tehran and could soon be shown in Iraq and Syria

Artists from more than 40 countries, including the UK and Australia, entered the anti-ISIS competition in Iran

Artists from more than 40 countries, including the UK and Australia, entered the anti-ISIS competition in Iran

This image refers to the terror group's destruction of ancient artefacts - among a long list of ISIS' crimes

This image refers to the terror group’s destruction of ancient artefacts – among a long list of ISIS’ crimes