Awards International

Ali Ferzat picks up award in person after months in hiding

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Alan Gardner October 11, 2012 1 minute 1 comment

Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat was honored last year with the 2011 Sakharov Prize but could not receive it in person as he was recovering from being badly beaten by Syrian thugs trying to silence his cartooning. He was finally able to receive the award yesterday during the Sakharov Prize Network evening debates where Ali also participated in the debates.

Awarding the prize to Mr Ferzat, the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz stated: “Mr Ferzat has managed with his piercing irony and his sharp pencil to give a fatal blow to the credibility of the al-Assad’s regime and his circle. He has laid bare the nature of a regime which is a mixture of paranoia, violence and blind self-interest. He also showed with his personal example how freedom prevails over fear.”