Prominent Syrian cartoonist beaten; Gunmen break both his hands, ‘send message’

Ali Farzat

From 2002:  Favoured by Syria's new president, Ali Farzat, leading cartoonist and popular newspaper publisher, seemed to have a licence to mock. Can it last?

"Until better communication exists between the rulers and the ruled, Syrians must rely on intuitive skills honed through long years of exposure to Farzat cartoons. For the decipherers and code-breakers on either side of the political fence, his humour has been like a divining rod."

Political Cartoons of an Arab master

Syrian sense of humor failure  ..."Another shows Mr Assad flexing in uniform in front of a mirror that reflects back a dominant, muscular image, overshadowing his puny figure."  Bad career move.

"His beating-up by security forces shows that he has hit home and that the authorities' tolerance for dissent is touching zero.""

UK Guardian

"Assad is a Reformer"  Hillary Clinton.

NY Times  "Masked gunmen severely beat Syria’s best-known political cartoonist on Thursday, breaking his hand and leaving him to bleed on the side of a road in Damascus, activists said."

The cartoon that really did it:  Right side.

Can We Get Rid of the Butcher of Damascus?