Dear Neville,
Zunar is a political cartoonist in Malaysia. When he was recently arrested after a sustained campaign of harassment, this is how he responded:
“I will keep drawing until the last drop of my ink.”
Zunar was arrested after he tweeted his opinions on recent political news in his home country. It’s something you and I might do every day — but the Malaysian authorities have charged him with nine counts of sedition.
This isn’t the first time Zunar has been targeted by his government.
He was arrested and detained in 2010 after publishing a book of political cartoons. Many of his other books have been banned, and his offices have been raided multiple times.
The authorities have gone so far as to target the people who have sold his books, detaining and questioning them under the same laws that could see Zunar thrown in prison.
Late last year, they even forced an online payment service to release the details of people who have bought his books.
This is scary stuff. The Malaysian authorities have made Zunar’s life as difficult as they can — but they’ve never gone this far before.
In hope,
Diana B. Sayed
Crisis Response Coordinator
Amnesty International Australia
@DsSayed
PS. Zunar will be back in court on 7 July, which means now is our best chance to send a strong message. Your voice can make a difference — demand that the Malaysian authorities drop all charges now.
