The Cartoonists Rights Network International has awarded its Courage in Editorial Cartooning award to Malaysian cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwarul Haque, better known as Zunar, according to Tom Spurgeon. A ceremony will be held on July 7 in Florida.
Tom writes:
Zunar plans to be in St. Petersburg, Florida for the event, and I believe is taking the group up on their opportunity to speak regarding his story, including the various travails he’s experienced in terms of getting his work out there while facing government interference and harassment. The CRNI has also offered to coordinate media efforts for Zunar on a trip to Washington, D.C. A delegation of 22 cartoonists from North Africa and South Asia as a well as significant groups of cartoonists and artists from the U.S. and Canada are expected at the fete.
Last year Zunar was arrested and his books confiscated by the Malaysian government under their Sedition Act. He was released and he is challenging the ban on his books through the court system.