Cartoonist Zunar — who is facing nine sedition charges in Malaysia — has been honoured with the 2016 Cartooning for Peace Award.
He received this award — one of several awards the seasoned political cartoonist has so far received — at a ceremony which took place at the Palais Eynard in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday. The award was first given out in 2012.
Also honoured at the ceremony was Kenyan cartoonist, Gado and both their works were featured at the Lac Leman in Geneva, Malaysiakini reports.
Zunar, or Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, is currently facing a jail term of up to 43 years for his comments criticising the jailing of then Opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim in February last year.
“Fear and intimidation are the potent tools being used by the regime to scare the people. I believe that strokes of art can lead the people to cross the line of fear,” he said in a statement as reported by the portal.
“I also strongly believe that, when facing a moral crisis, there is no room to grumble in silence. We have to stand up and cry our voice out loud and clear.”
“Neutrality is escapism for those who live in a comfort zone. How can I be neutral, even my pen has a stand,” he was quoted further.
Jailed twice on claims of sedition — once in 2010 and again last year — Zunar is also the recipient of the Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett Award for 2011 and 2015 and the 2015 International Press Freedom Award, from the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
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