Awards & Recognitions
Zunar
Awards & Recognitions
CARTOONING FOR PEACE
CARTOONING FOR PEACE AWARD
Geneva
Zunar received another prestigious award in the field of editorial cartooning, namely the “Cartooning for Peace Award 2016” (International Cartoonist for Peace Award).
The award was presented by Former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a ceremony that took place at Palais Eynard, Geneva, in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2016. The “Cartooning for Peace Award” is a prestigious international recognition given biennially (once every two years), rather than annually. This honor, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is given specifically to editorial or political cartoonists from around the world who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to freedom of expression, human rights, and global peace through their satirical works, even though they have to face dangerous threats, oppression, or heavy legal restrictions in their home countries.
For the year 2016, Zunar (shared together with Kenyan cartoonist, Gado).
“Zunar (and Gado) remind us how fragile this freedom is in Africa, Asia, as well as other regions of the world. Through their commitment to an open and transparent society, those who have received threats in their home countries to the point of no longer being able to practice their profession, place the responsibility upon our shoulders to preserve freedom of expression and act in support of the struggle of those who cannot express themselves through art.”
– Kofi Annan
This recognition from a global peace figure stands as solid proof that Zunar’s courage to draw the truth amidst the pressure of a corrupt regime is recognized as a major contribution to universal human rights. Zunar when receiving the trophy expressed that this award gives new strength for him to continue fighting the oppressive regime through the stroke of ink. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized the moral responsibility of an artist by saying:
“Talent is not a gift, but a responsibility. It is my duty as a cartoonist to use art as a weapon against a tyrannical government. Fear and intimidation are potent tools used by regimes to frighten the people, but I believe, artistic lines are able to lead society to cross that line of fear.”
– Zunar
This firm statement translates the profound impact of the award, which does not merely appreciate his work, but elevates the dignity of local cartoonists as defenders of peace and justice who are feared on the international stage. In addition, Zunar admitted, that was one of his highest moments in his work.
COURAGE IN EDITORIAL CARTOONING AWARD
COURAGE IN EDITORIAL CARTOONING AWARD
Florida
Zunar, made history on a global stage when he was awarded the “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award 2011” by the Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) organization in a prestigious gala ceremony held in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States on July 12, 2011.
This exclusive annual prestigious award from CRNI is given to political cartoonists who demonstrate extraordinary courage or face great danger in order to defend the right to freedom of expression. CRNI itself is an international human rights non-governmental organization (NGO) established to protect the personal safety and freedom of expression rights of editorial cartoonists around the world who face threats, oppression, or detention by authorities due to their satirical works. At present, CRNI represents more than 600 cartoonists worldwide by establishing 21 partnerships with developing countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
CRNI Executive Director, Dr. Robert Russell, in his tribute speech said:
“Once again tonight we celebrate a cartoonist who dares to stand up to the ruling power in his country. Zunar clenches his fist at the powerful but narrow-minded government. The way he handles illegal censorship serves as a guide that we can defend freedom of expression and preserve it for ourselves and also as a legacy for our children and grandchildren. One lesson we learn from this year’s award winner is that freedom of expression in most parts of this world has to be gained by paying a high price. For the past 10 years, Zunar has constantly stood up to fight, and even had to go in and out of court. Not a single corrupt politician in Malaysia has escaped the target of his pen. However, not a single newspaper in Malaysia dares to publish his cartoons for fear of their licenses being revoked. Zunar’s strategy in facing pressure from the government is to always fight back. After being arrested last year for publishing a cartoon book, he sued the Malaysian government back.”
– Dr. Robert Russell
Zunar, when receiving the award, expressed his gratitude and described this recognition as motivation to keep fighting. He stated:
“This recognition gives new strength for me to produce more impactful works in the effort to combat corruption, the wasting of public money, and the abuse of power practiced by leaders in my own country. I also consider it a signal to the Malaysian government to stop threats, intimidation, and criminal actions against me because the international community is watching.”
– Zunar
INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM AWARD
ZUNAR BECOMES THE FIRST CARTOONIST TO RECEIVE 'INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM AWARD'
New York
Zunar made his own history when he became the first full-time cartoonist in the world to receive the “International Press Freedom Award 2015”.
This annual prestigious award ceremony organized by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, United States on November 24, 2015. This global recognition is given specifically to media practitioners who display high courage in reporting news or criticism for the public interest, despite facing legal action and severe security threats in their respective countries.
The CPJ chose Zunar as a recipient to appreciate his resilience in maintaining the sharpness of his pen’s nib in exposing corruption issues and abuse of power at the highest level in Malaysia. At the time the award was presented, Zunar was facing a highly critical legal situation, including nine charges under the Sedition Act carrying a risk of imprisonment for up to 43 years, as well as repeated arrests and seizures of his cartoon books.
The decision of CPJ to elevate a political cartoonist as a main recipient proves that satirical art is now recognized internationally as one of the important journalism mediums that is highly effective in demanding government accountability. The “International Press Freedom Award 2015” was officially presented to Zunar by Garry Trudeau, a legendary cartoonist originating from the United States who is famous as the creator of the popular political satire comic strip series, Doonesbury.
This presentation carried a very immense symbolism of solidarity because it brought together two generations of the world’s political cartoonists who consistently use the art of drawing to criticize ruling powers.Zunar when receiving the trophy of appreciation, stated that this award is a form of massive global solidarity moral support for himself. He emphasized that the task of drawing cartoons is not a crime, on the contrary, it is a citizen’s social responsibility to expose injustice.
“Talent is not a gift, talent is a responsibility and responsibility is greater than fear,”
– Zunar
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ICON
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ICON
Received 241,639 messages
In 2015, Amnesty International officially chose Zunar to become one of the main figures in its largest annual campaign, Write for Rights (#W4R).
This global campaign aims to gather international solidarity to demand the release or dropping of restrictions against individuals who are oppressed for defending human rights. Zunar made history when he became the only cartoonist and sole representative from Malaysia chosen for the campaign in that respective year.
Every year, the body only lists around 10 to 12 high-profile cases from all over the world, making Zunar’s selection a major recognition of his visual art’s impact in fighting tyranny. Zunar’s selection in the campaign triggered an extraordinary wave of international awareness. Throughout the campaign, Zunar received as many as 241,639 messages of support from the global community demanding the Malaysian government to drop all charges against him. Out of that total number, the support received was in various forms: 17,419 physical letters, cards, drawings, and printed documents sent directly from 26 foreign countries. Over 224,000 digital petition signatures and online messages from global human rights supporters.
HELLMAN/HAMMETT AWARD
HELLMAN/HAMMETT AWARD
Received TWICE
Zunar made his own history when he was recognized twice receiving the “Hellman/Hammett Award” / Human Rights Watch, respectively for the years 2011 and 2015.
This annual honor by the New York-based organization is given specifically as moral support and emergency financial assistance for global writers and media practitioners who face cruel political oppression. Zunar became among the few art activists to receive this recognition repeatedly following a series of continuous pressures from the Malaysian ruling regime, including raids on his office, bans on his compilation cartoon books, as well as economic sanctions aimed at crippling his livelihood as a freelance cartoonist.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) in its official statement praised Zunar’s resilience which has never faded even though the space for freedom of expression in Malaysia is narrowing. In 2011, this award was given following Zunar’s lockup detention under the Sedition Act in September 2010.
In 2015, HRW once again channeled the appreciation grant after Zunar faced the most critical situation in his career, which was being slapped with nine simultaneous sedition charges carrying the threat of imprisonment for up to 43 years due to his Twitter tweets criticizing the country’s judicial system.
This award is a manifestation of global solidarity to ensure Zunar’s torch of struggle is not extinguished by tyrannical legal intimidation. Zunar described the double awards from Human Rights Watch as a highly crucial lifeline, not only for the survival of his career. International support like this proves that his line of satire is on the right side in order to defend the fate of the people.
COURAGE TO FIGHT CENSORSHIP
COURAGE TO FIGHT CENSORSHIP AWARD
Bilbao, Spain
The “Courage to Fight Censorship Award 2011” was presented to Zunar in an honor ceremony in conjunction with the 6th Festival Against Censorship (VI. Festival Against Censorship) Bilbao.
This special award is co-sponsored by the arts foundation Fundación Bilbao Arte and the banking institution BBK. This honor is given specifically to international creative arts practitioners who demonstrate extraordinary courage in opposing any form of work censorship, information suppression, as well as rights restrictions by authorities in their home countries. The jury and festival organizers in Bilbao chose Zunar as a recipient to appreciate the steadfastness of his principles in consistently using the pen’s nib as a main weapon to expose corruption practices and abuse of power in Malaysia.
THE ANNEXE HEROES, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARD
THE ANNEXE HEROES, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARD
Zunar received "The Annexe Heroes" (The Annexe Heroes Freedom of Expression Awards) in 2009, following various pressures he faced from the government side.
This award is co-organized by The Annexe Gallery (which is located at Central Market) and the human rights organization Amnesty International Malaysia. This award is given to local activists, writers, media practitioners, and artists who dare to speak up for the truth.This recognition is given specifically for his brave contribution using the medium of political cartoon art to promote freedom of expression and social justice in Malaysia, making him among the earliest figures to receive recognition from the local creative community before he began winning major awards at the international stage.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION, THE MADAM TAN HONG MUI SCHOLARSHIP
SPECIAL RECOGNITION, THE MADAM TAN HONG MUI SCHOLARSHIP
Kuala Lumpur
Zunar earned another meaningful recognition at the local level when he was awarded the “Recognition Award for Continuous Work in Championing Cartoon for Peace and Nation Building” for the year 2019.
This prestigious award ceremony took place spendidly at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on September 21, 2019. This special award is sponsored exclusively by the board of trustees of The Madam Tan Hong Mui Scholarship, a local scholarship entity committed to supporting the contributions of outstanding individuals in promoting peace and the building of a nation’s civilization through various mediums of expression.
The panel of evaluators chose Zunar as the award recipient to appreciate the continuous impact of his works in upholding human rights as well as educating society. In contrast to previous international awards that focused more on the element of courage in fighting physical threats, this honor from The Madam Tan Hong Mui Scholarship is given specifically for the aesthetic value and philosophy of his cartoon art.
Zunar’s satirical work is recognized as a potent tool for nation building because it successfully opened the minds of the general public to reject corruption practices for the sake of birthing a more transparent and democratic Malaysia.