Whereabouts on Zunar’s Legal Issues

COURT UPDATE: High Court sets September 25 for Zunar’s travel ban challenge

High Court has set 25th September to hear my challenge on travel ban. I have to wait another three months to find out whether I will be allowed to travel abroad. This morning, the Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datin Hajjah Azizah has set 25th September to hear my challenge to quash the travel ban. The Malaysian government imposed the travel ban on me since June 2016, immediately after I received "Cartoonist for Peace Award 2016" which was presented by Kofi Annan in Geneva. The challenge was filed on Dec 7 last year. I was represented by Melissa Sasidaran.

(Bm & Eng) Malaysian government, bound by court desicion, agree tp pay RM18,000 as compensation for damaged of Zunar’s cartoon work

(BM & Eng) Malaysian government, bound by court desicion, agree to pay RM18,000 as compensation for damaged of Zunar's cartoon work The government of Malaysia, bound by the court order today has agreed to pay RM18,000 as a compensation for destroying my orginal political cartoon seven years ago. When the police raided my office and arrested me under the Sedition Act on 24th September 2010, they laso confiscated the drawing which depicted PM Najib and his wife Rosmah, along with then newly published book "Cartoon-O-Phobia". In November 2014, upon my suit, the Court of Appeal maintained the decision by the High Court in July 2012 which had instructed the police to return the drawing and the books to me. The original drawing was badly damaged when I received it. STATEMENT 1. The confiscation of cartoon artworks under the criminal law the Sedition Act is a gross violation of cartoonist's rights and freedom of expression. 2. To keep the artwork under the police custody for five years and damaging it is a more serious offence. It is clearly an act of intimidation and lack of respect of the work of art. 3. Today's decision is not about the quantum, but as a lesson to the police and the Malaysian government that using criminal law arbitrarily to confiscate and destroy cartoon works is unacceptable, and was done in bad faith. It is also a clear proof that my book's title, "Cartoon-O-Phobia" is a right word to describe the character of the Malaysian government. 4. I would also like to remind that there are currently more than 40 of my cartoon works still under police custody in Penang since November 2016, which are also being investigated under the Sedition Act. I will take legal action for the police to return them at they are. The has to be responsible for damages, if any. 5. This goes the same for the 1,300 books which was confiscated by the Kuala Lumpur police, also in November 2016, because according to the police, it is "Detrimental to Parliamentary Democracy." Zunar Political Cartoonist 11 April 2017 **************************************************** Kerajaan, atas keputusan mahkamah bayar RM18,000 kepada Zunar kerana merosakkan kartun beliau Kerajaan Malaysia pada hari ini, atas perintah mahkamah, bersetuju membayar RM18,000 sebagai ganti rugi kerana telah merosakkan lukisan kartun asli saya tujuh tahun lalu. Bila sepasukan polis menyerbu pejabat saya dan menangkap saya pada 24 September 2010, mereka juga merampas sebuah lukisan yang menggambarkan karektor PM Najib dan isterinya, Rosmah, bersama buku baru ketika itu, "Cartoon-O-Phobia". Selepas saman saya, pada November 2014, Mahkamah Rayuan mengekalkan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi pada 22 Julai 2012 yang mengarahkan polis memulangkan lukisan dan buku-buku tersebut kepada saya. Tetapi lukisan tersebut telah rosak teruk apabila saya menerimanya. KENYATAAN 1. Rampasan lukisan kartun di bawah undang-undang jenayah seperti Akta hasutan adalah menyalahi hak asasi kartunis dan hak kebebasan bersuara. 2. Untuk menahan lukisan tersebut dalam lokap polis selama lima tahun dan merosakkannya adalah merupakan kesalahan yang lebih besar. Ia adalah satu bentuk intimidasi dan kejahilan dalam menghormati kerja seni. 3. Keputusan hari ini bukan soal jumlah wang pampasan, tetapi adalah satu pengajaran kepada polis dan kerajaan Malaysia bahawa menggunakan undang-undang jenayah secara wewenang adalah tidak dapat diterima dan berniat jahat. Ia juga bukti jelas bahawa tajuk buku kartun saya, "Cartoon-O-Phobia" adalah perkataan yang tepat untuk menggambarkan watak kerajaan Malaysia. 4. Saya ingin mengingatkan bahawa buat masa ini terdapat lebih 40 karya kartun saya yang dirampas dan masih di lokap polis di Pulau Pinang sejak November 2016, juga disiasat di Akta Hasutan. Saya akan mengambil tindakan perundangan supaya polis memulangkannya kepada saya. Polis harus bertanggungjawab sekiranya terdapat kerosakan pada karya-karya kartun tersebut. 5. Tindakan sama juga akan diambil mengenai 1,300 buah buku saya yang dirampas oleh polis Kuala Lumpur dan masih dalam tahanan mereka juga sejak November tahun lepas kerana diakatakan "Mengancam Demokrasi Berparlimen". Zunar Kartunis Politik 11 April 2017
THE BACKGROUND 
 
Court: 9 charges under the Sedition Act, which carries maximum penalty for 43 years. (Has been postponed to 11th May)
 
17 Dec 2016: Zunar was arrested under new law, "Detrimental To Parliament Democracy" which carries maximum penalty for 15 years jail. 1,300 copies of his cartoon books were confiscated. 
 
26th Nov 2016 – Zunar was arrested, detained and investigated under two laws: the Sedition Act and the Penal Code.
 
25th Nov 2016 –  Zunar was forced to call off his exhibition in Penang (about 4 hours drive up-north from Kuala Lumpur), due to an attack by pro government thugs.
 
17 Oct 2016 – Zunar was banned from traveling abroad by the Malaysian government. 
 
2 April 2015 – Zunar was slapped with nine charges under the archaic Sedition Act and facing possible 43 years imprisonment.
 
10 Feb: Zunar was arrested under the Sedition Act. 
 
24 September 2010: Arrested under The Sedition Act.
 
Beside that, his office has been raided several times, his webmaster been arrested, the printers who print his books also raided. Nine of his cartoons book were banned. 

Court Update: Zunar’s Travel ban challenge: Judge agreed to recuse herself

Judge Datuk Hanifah Farikullah today agreed to recuse herself from hearing my case challenging the travel ban imposed by the Malaysian government at Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Lawyers Latifah Koya, Eric Paulsen and Melissa Sasidaran submitted the aplication on my behalf on the ground that Hanifah had decided in two previous cases of Tony Pua's and Hishamuddin Rais' involving similar issues and laws.

There was no objection from the AG Chamber on the application. The court will inform the date for the next session.

On 7th Dec 2016, I filed a leave application for a judicial review to challenge the Immigration Department's decision barring me from travelling overseas. I named the Immigration Director-General, Home Minister and the government as respondents.

I am seeking a certiorari order to quash the travel restriction by the respondents, which was informed to me orally at KLIA airport on 17th October 2016. The order seeks to review that the travel ban violates the Article 5 (1), Article 8 and/or Article 9 of the Federal Constitution, therefore to declare that the ban is null, void and unconstitutional.

I am also seeking a mandamus order from the court to instruct the respondents to allow me to travel overseas without restrictions.

On 17th October 2016, I was at the KL International Airport leaving for Singapore to attend a forum when I was stopped by the immigration officers.

Last week, I was unable to travel to Switzerland for the launch of my exhibition in Morges due to the travel ban.

BACKGROUND

  • Court: 24 January 2017.
  • Case: 9 charges under the Sedition Act, which carries maximum penalty for 43 years. (Has been postponed to 11th May)

17 Dec 2016: Zunar was arrested under new law, "Detrimental To Parlimenr Democracy" which carries maximun penalty for 15 years jail. 1,300 copies of his cartoon books were confiscated.

26th Nov 2016 – Zunar was arrested, detained and investigated under two laws: the Sedition Act and the Penal Code.

25th Nov 2016 – Zunar was forced to call off his exhibition in Penang (about 4 hours drive up-north from Kuala Lumpur), due to an attack by pro government thugs.

17 Oct 2016 – Zunar was banned from traveling abroad by the Malaysian government.

2 April 2015 – Zunar was slapped with nine charges under the archaic Sedition Act and facing possible 43 years imprisonment.

10 Feb : Zunar was arrested under the Sedition Act.

24 September 2010: Arrested under The Sedition Act.

Beside that, his office has been raided several times, his webmaster been arrested, the printers who print his books also raided. Nine of his cartoons book were banned.

AWARDS

  1. “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award 2011” by Cartoonists Right Network International
  2. "Cartooning For Peace Award 2016" Geneva
  3. Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett Award for 2011 & 2015
  4. International Press Freedom Award, Committee to Protect Journalist, New York 2015

CARTOON-O-PHOBIA – 20 cartoons that scare the Malaysian government

These cartoons were exhibited in Penang, Malaysia on 25 November 2016, Zunar has been attacked by pro government thugs at the exhibition venue. On the following day, he was arrested by the police and locked up under the Sedition Act and The Penal Code. He was released on bail on 28 Nov. caertoonkini-sapulympic-8-aug-2016 cartoonkini-1mdb-gst-27-july-2016 cartoonkini-1mdb-new-york-7-aug-2016 cartoonkini-court-anwar-16-feb-2015 cartoonkini-cow-1-nov-2016 cartoonkini-curruption-17-august-2016 cartoonkini-halal-25-oct-2015-london cartoonkini-isap-new-2-dis-2015 cartoonkini-jet-step-17-june-2016-perth cartoonkini-last-drop-3-april-2014 cartoonkini-lelong-8-nov-20116 cartoonkini-merdeka-i-sept-2014 cartoonkini-nsc-6-dec-2015 cartoonkini-playing-field-25-sept-2016 cartoonkini-sapuman-17-aug-2015 cartoonkini-sara-hidup-21-dis-2015 cartoonkini-siapa-mo1-24-july-2016-copy-2 cartoonkini-supermoon-15-nov-2016 cartoonkini-top-secret-10-july-2016 cartoonkini-wasaraba-26-aug-2016 maudit-ka

Zunar’s travel ban draws worldwide solidarity from International cartoonist organisations, NGOs

Below are the statements from the Cartoonist Rights Network International, The Cartooning For Peace Foundation, The Cartoon Movement, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Article 19 and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Amnesty International and Wikipedia Foundation. 1. Amnesty International Amnesty International views this travel ban on Zunar as the latest attempt by the Malaysian authorities to silence government critics. Since he was charged last year, Zunar has remained an outspoken critic of the Malaysian government, both at home and overseas, and has continued to use his cartoons to highlight/draw attention to allegations of corruption and the abuse of power in the country. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/10/malaysia-drop-charges-against-zunar/ 2. Wikipedia founder urges Malaysia to cease Zunar harassment “JWF calls the Malaysian authorities to remove the travel ban from Zunar immediately and drop all charges against him,” http://jimmywalesfoundation.org/malaysia-award-winning-cartoonist-zunar-barred-from-leaving-country/ 3. Cartoonist Rights Network International, Washington “The authorities must lift this illegal infringement upon Zunar’s rights.” – CRNI Executive Director Dr Robert Russell http://cartoonistsrights.org/zunar-grounded-by-malaysian-p…/ 4. The Cartooning For Peace Foundation Geneva, (Switzerland)  We join International and Human Rights NGOs and call upon the Malaysian authorities to lift the travel ban on Zunar with immediate effect and to respect the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights signed by Malaysia. Let us pay tribute to Zunar and other editorial cartoonists for their courage to work and draw under very difficult circumstances in many regions of the world. Marie Heuzé and Patrick Chappatte, Vice-Presidents of the Swiss Foundation Cartooning for Peace 5. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM), in condemning the travel ban of a notable political cartoonist in Malaysia. The IFJ demands that the ban be immediately lifted. More http://www.ifj.org/…/malaysian-political-cartoonist-banne…/… 6. Article 19 Article 19 urges the Malaysia government to lift the travel ban imposed on famous Malaysian cartoonist Zunar, as discovered by the cartoonist when trying to leave Malaysia on 17 October 2016. more https://www.article19.org/…/malaysia:-travel-ban-for-zunar-… 7. Committee to Protect Journalists "Malaysia's persistent harassment of cartoonist Zunar has made him a symbol of the worsening state of press freedom in the country," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative. "We call for an immediate and unconditional lift of the ban imposed on his international travel and for all charges against him to be dropped." More https://cpj.org/…/award-winning-malaysian-cartoonist-banned…

The story of cartoonist Zunar

Travel ban, book ban, detention, charged, office raided, printer raided, webmaster arrested

ZUNAR

Zunar (Zulkiflee Sm Anwar Ulhaque) is a political cartoonist from Malaysia. With slogan, "How Can I be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand", he exposes corruption and abuse of power committed by the government of Malaysia through his art. 

Malaysian government is now imposing a travel ban on Zunar to prevent from travelling abroad.

Zunar is also now facing nine charges under the archaic Sedition Act and facing possible 43 years imprisonment and the court proceeding will start on 22nd Nov 2016. He was detained and locked behind bars twice under the Sedition Act - first time was on September 2010 for two days and on 10th of February 2015 for three days.  

Five of his cartoon books have been banned by the Malaysian government on the ground that the 

contents are "detrimental to public order." His office in Kuala Lumpur has been raided a few times and 

thousands cartoon books were confiscated.

The printers, vendors, and bookstores, have been harassed. Their premises have been raided and they have been warned not to print or carry any of his books or their bussiness licence will be revoked.

Three of his assistants were arrested. The webmaster, who manages his website and online bookstore, was called in by the police for questioning. 

Zunar is the only Malaysian selected by Amnesty International as the first Malaysian for their biggest annual international campaign, ‘Write for Rights (#W4R) 2015'.

THE HARASMENT

17 Oct 2016 - Zunar was banned from traveling abroad by the Malaysian government. 

He will file a legal proceeding to challenge the ruling. 

2 April 2015 - Zunar was slapped with nine charges under the archaic Sedition Act and facing possible 43 years imprisonment and the court proceeding will starts on 22nd Nov 2016.

Feb 28 2015 - More than 20 policemen raided his launching event in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur and treaten to detain him and confiscate the book, ROS in Kangkong Land if he proceed. He had to cancel the program.

Feb 14 2015 - Hundreds of the books, ROS in Kangkong Land were confiscated by the police from the printer's lorry en-route to the launching venue.

Feb 10, 2015 - Zunar was detained and locked up for three days under the Sedition Act. He was accused to have tweeted seditious comments in relation to the Federal Court's decision which upheld the conviction of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The police opened up two separate investigations on him under the Sedition Act.  One is on the tweet criticising Mr Anwar’s sentence under the D5 Unit (Classified Crime). Another is on his cartoon books ‘Pirates of The Carry-BN’ and ‘Conspiracy to Imprison Anwar’.

28 Jan 2015 -  There was a raid on his office while he was on a speaking tour in London. More than 150 books were confiscated. Laws used: Printing Presses and Publications Act, Sedition Act, Penal Code.

6 Nov 2014 -  Three of his assistants were arrested and taken to the police station for selling his latest cartoon books. Law used: Sedition Act.

16 Nov 2014 -  The webmaster, who manages his website and online bookstore, was called in by the police for questioning. Law used: Sedition Act.

18 Nov 2014 -  The police have asked the online payment gateway that handles his book transactions to disclose the list of customers who have purchased his books through the official website www.zunar.my. The company was given no choice but to disclose it.

Law used: Sedition Act. 

20 Nov 2014 -  Zunar was brought in for questioning to the Dang Wangi Police Station in Kuala Lumpur under the ‘Classified Crime Section’ involving three different laws.

Laws used: Printing Presses and Publications Act, the Sedition Act, Penal Code.

24 Sept 2010: Zunar was detained and locked up for two days after the publication of his book ‘Cartoon-O-Phobia’. Law used: Sedition Act.

July 2010: Five of his books – ‘Perak Darul Kartun’; ‘1 Funny Malaysia, ‘Isu Dalam Kartun’ Vol.1, 2, and 3 – were banned by the Home Minister on the grounds that the contents are "detrimental to public order." Law used: Printing Presses and Publications Act. 

Sept 2009: His office was raided by the authorities. Five hundred (500) copies of his book titled ’Gedung Kartun’ were confiscated. Law used: Printing Presses and Publications Act

THREAT AGAINST PRINTERS

Three companies which printed his books were raided. They were warned to not print his books in the future or their licence will be revoked. As a result, no printer dares to print his book. He has resorted to redacting the name of the printer to protect them. This is against the law, but he has no choice. The law in Malaysia requires both names of printing company and publisher on all publications.

Laws used: Printing Presses and Publications Act, Sedition Act.

Assault on vendors/book stores

Bookstores' premises around the country were raided by authority and they were warned to not sell his books in the future or thier licence will be revoked. 

Law used: Printing Presses and Publications Act, Sedition Act

PHILOSOPHY 

  1. How Can I be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand
  2. Talent is not a gift, talent is a responsibility
  3. The can ban my books, they can ban my cartoon, but they cannot ban my mind, I will keep drawing until the last drop of my ink

Award

  1. “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award 2011” by Cartoonists Right Network International
  2. "Cartooning For Peace Award 2016" Geneva
  3. Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett Award for 2011 & 2015
  4. International Press Freedom Award, Committee to Protect Journalist, New York 2015
Contact Zunar: [email protected] Donation welcome, please proceed to this link https:/shop/donation/contribute/ Buy Zunar's books and products https:/shop/

Malaysia: Award-Winning Cartoonist Zunar Barred From Leaving Country

by  on  in Inspirational Heroes, Worldwide Violations
Zunar’s cartoon about his travel ban
Zunar, award winning political cartoonist and activist, was held by the immigration police on October 17, 2016, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. He had been told that he was barred from travelling, effective from June 24. The order was confirmed by an immigration officer to be instructed directly from the Inspector General Of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar. The IGP has no legal right to restrict Zunar’s movement and to bar him from leaving the country without a court order. Zunar intends to legally challenge the travel ban. more http://jimmywalesfoundation.org/malaysia-award-winning-cartoonist-zunar-barred-from-leaving-country/  

Travel Ban: Support from World’s cartoonist organisations, NGOs

World's cartoonist organisations, NGOs have came forward to support Zunar and condemn the Malaysian goverment action to impose the traveling ban on him. Below are the statements from the Cartoonist Rights Network International, The Cartooning For Peace Faundation, The Cartoon Movement, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Article 19 and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 1. Cartoonist Rights Network International, Washington Zunar Grounded by Malaysian Police Chief “We were worried about this for some time. The authorities must lift this illegal infringement upon Zunar’s rights.” – CRNI Executive Director Dr Robert Russell Zunar is contesting charges of sedition by the Malaysian government. He has endured more than a decade of harassment from officials with his office raided by the police on multiple occasions, his publications confiscated and website disrupted. This amounts to a war of attrition against him as time, resources and energy are consumed by a long and convoluted court case at one end and his livelihood is curtailed at the other. The travel ban comes after Zunar, along with Gado of Kenya, received the Cartooning For Peace award last May and his exhibition in Geneva was described as an act of “economic sabotage” by the Malaysian Minister for Communications and possible grounds for police action by the Deputy Prime Minsiter. more http://cartoonistsrights.org/zunar-grounded-by-malaysian-police-chief/   2. The Cartooning For Peace Foundation Geneva, (Switzerland) 18, October 2016. a) We are proud to support Zunar, a courageous and recognized cartoonist of Malaysia who has received the 2016 Cartooning for Peace Award of the City of Geneva on May 3 rd in Switzerland to mark World Press Freedom Day. b) By drawing and commenting on current affairs with talent, impertinence and humour, cartoonists test and expand the bounds of freedom of expression, and thereby, extend our own freedom. Zunar like other editorial cartoonists who are threatened, imprisoned or forced to flee into exile because of their drawingsdeserve the full support of the international community. c) We call upon the Malaysian authorities to clarify the situation and provide the public with an explanation as to why Zunar was banned from travelling on 17 October to Singapore. d) We join International and Human Rights NGOs and call upon the Malaysian authorities to lift the travel ban on Zunar with immediate effect and to respect the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights signed by Malaysia. e) Let us pay tribute to Zunar and other editorial cartoonists for their courage to work and draw under very difficult circumstances in many regions of the world. Marie Heuzé and Patrick Chappatte Vice-Presidents of the Swiss Foundation Cartooning for Peace   4. The Cartoon Movement (Holland) Malaysian Cartoonist Zunar Banned from Traveling We have reported about Malaysian cartoonist Zunar on numerous occasions. Zunar’s cartoons are very critical of the Malaysian government, much to the dismay of government officias. He currently faces nine charges under the Sedition Act with the possibility of 43 years in jail. Today, he was also banned from traveling. More http://blog.cartoonmovement.com/2016/10/a-statement-from-zunar-.html   4. Comic Book Legal Defense Fund By Maren Williams Zunar travel banThe Malaysian government’s censorship campaign against political cartoonist Zunar entered a new phase today: when he attempted to catch a flight to Singapore for a public forum, he discovered that he’s been barred from leaving the country on direct orders from Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakr. Zunar’s trial on nine counts of sedition is currently set to begin on November 22, but has already been delayed multiple times. More http://cbldf.org/2016/10/zunar-barred-from-leaving-malaysia/   5. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Malaysian political cartoonist banned from leaving country The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM), in condemning the travel ban of a notable political cartoonist in Malaysia. The IFJ demands that the ban be immediately lifted, and that freedom of movement is ensured for all media workers within the country. More http://www.ifj.org/nc/news-single-view/backpid/33/article/malaysian-political-cartoonist-banned-from-leaving-country/?platform=hootsuite   6. Article 19 Malaysia: Travel ban for Zunar and other HRDs a violation of right to freedom of expression Article 19 urges the Malaysia government to lift the travel ban imposed on famous Malaysian cartoonist Zunar, as discovered by the cartoonist when trying to leave Malaysia on 17 October 2016. more https://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/38521/en/malaysia:-travel-ban-for-zunar-and-other-hrds-a-violation-of-right-to-freedom-of-expression   7. Committee to Protect Journalists Award-winning Malaysian cartoonist banned from travel "Malaysia's persistent harassment of cartoonist Zunar has made him a symbol of the worsening state of press freedom in the country," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative. "We call for an immediate and unconditional lift of the ban imposed on his international travel and for all charges against him to be dropped." More https://cpj.org/2016/10/award-winning-malaysian-cartoonist-banned-from-tra.php   8. Index on Cencorship Malaysia imposes travel ban on award-winning cartoonist More https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2016/10/malaysia-imposes-travel-ban-award-winning-cartoonist/

Malaysian Cartoonist Zunar Banned from Traveling

We have reported about Malaysian cartoonist Zunar on numerous occasions. Zunar’s cartoons are very critical of the Malaysian government, much to the dismay of government officias. He currently faces nine charges under the Sedition Act with the possibility of 43 years in jail. Today, he was also banned from traveling. Read more: http://blog.cartoonmovement.com/2016/10/a-statement-from-zunar-.html

ZUNAR GROUNDED BY MALAYSIAN POLICE CHIEF

As widely reported following an update on his Twitter feed, CRNI’s 2011 Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award winner Zulkiflee Anwar Haque – Zunar – was prevented from leaving Malaysia via Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday October 17th. He had intended to travel to Singapore to attend a forum. Zunar went on to state that an immigration officer informed him of a travel ban, apparently in place since the 24th of June and instructed by the Royal Malaysian Police’s Inspector-General, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar. As readers of our site will know, Zunar is contesting charges of sedition by the Malaysian government. He has endured more than a decade of harassment from officials with his office raided by the police on multiple occasions, his publications confiscated and website disrupted. This amounts to a war of attrition against him as time, resources and energy are consumed by a long and convoluted court case at one end and his livelihood is curtailed at the other. Read more: http://cartoonistsrights.org/zunar-grounded-by-malaysian-police-chief/

THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS (IFJ) CONDEM THE TRAVEL BAN OF A NOTABLE POLITICAL CARTOONIST IN MALAYSIA

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM), in condemning the travel ban of a notable political cartoonist in Malaysia. The IFJ demands that the ban be immediately lifted, and that freedom of movement is ensured for all media workers within the country. On October 17, freelance political cartoonist, Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, commonly known as Zunar, was stopped by immigration authorities at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport as he attempted to travel to Singapore. He was told by the immigration officers that they had received a direct order from the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, to prevent him from leaving the country, effective from the 24th of June 2016. Read more: http://www.ifj.org/nc/news-single-view/backpid/33/article/malaysian-political-cartoonist-banned-from-leaving-country/?platform=hootsuite