Radio Netherlands Worldwide has interviewed Syrian cartoonist Ferzat Ali, whose hands earlier this year were beaten by Syrian Authorities to silence him. He reports that his hands are healing and when they do, he will return to Syria to continue cartooning. He is currently living in Kuwait.
Mr Ferzat is busy retraining his fingers. Once he has recovered, the cartoonist will return to Syria. That’s not a choice, he says. “I don’t own a supermarket that I can freely open and close. Drawing cartoons is my only profession. The art is a gift from God, and I must continue to bring my message.”
Last month, Reporters Without Borders and French newspaper Le Monde announced Ferzat was a recipient of The 2011 Press Freedom Prize.