Ali Ferzat. 

Ali Ferzat is a sixty two years old political cartoonist. He is one of the most important artists of our time, especially in the Middle East. From the 1960's he drew cartoons of political figures in fact, because of some of these drawings, he was banned in several countries.  Through his drawings he was criticising country leaders which they didn't accept these drawings.  

The Syrian government forced Ferzat to work with them with one condition that he didn't mark any one individual. This ended in 2011. 

            "I wanted to Show people that they did not need to be scared any more" Said by Ali Ferzat in a 2013 interview with The Guardian.

The drawing symbolises Bashar that as shown in the drawing, could not sit comfortably in the chair. Apparently situations were

            "giving him a pain in the arse" said Ali Ferzat.

Ali Ferzat., 2011. “chair of power". Drawn  in: Syrian

This drawing brought consequences to Ferzat.  In August 2011 Ferzat was beaten on the street of Damascus by some militia group that were ordered by Assad. In 2011 Ferzat   "the Sakharov prize" for unity and in 2012 he was one of the most influential person that helped people.  

            "If there is no mission or message to my work I might as well be a painter and decorator." Ali Ferzat said two years after he was injured.

I admire this artist because it's rare that you find people that are willing to sacrifice their jobs and even their live's to help those less fortunate.  Although he was part of the "power from below" because he was even a slave of the government.  

Reference:

the guardian, 2013. Ali Ferzat, cartoonist in exile. [online] Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/19/ali-ferzat-cartoonist-exile-syria> [Accessed 9 November 2016 ].

the guardian, 2013. Ali Ferzat's cartoons – in pictures. [online] Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2013/aug/19/ali-ferzat-cartoons-in-pictures> [Accessed 9 November 2016 ].