Malaysian Police Raid Zunar’s Office; Cartoonist Escorted To Police HQ

In a distressing report hitting the wires this morning, police in Kuala Lumpur have raided the Cartoon Kafe offices owned by Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaq, better known as Zunar. They seized copies of the Cartoon-O-Phobia book scheduled for release tonight and arrested the cartoonist, escorting him to the district's police headquarters. Ten officers were involved in the effort.

Zunar had made headlines for the banning of his work by the government, which he is challenging in court. (Zunar's extreme disdain for the idea that his work could cause potential riots led him to the world-class funny and heartbreaking response that he would like to be shown some of this civil unrest his past works have caused.) In addition to the challenges, Zunar has spoken openly that his latest work is sharper than the old one, promising engagement with a laundry list of sensitive issues. The work draws from on-line cartoons appearing in the Malasiakini news portal in 2009 and 2010.

An even launching Cartoon-O-Phobia is scheduled this evening; the cartoonist has apparently told the press the launch will still happen. Our thoughts are with the cartoonist in this particular circumstance and his ongoing struggle to be heard without government interference.

Zunar maintains a significant web presence here.

Update: Subsequent news reports say that the cartoonist has been charged with sedition.
 
posted 9:00 am PST | Permalink
 

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