Ali Ferzat is a very well known cartoonist in Syria; he is probably one of the best well known ones out there. He has been known for his brave cartoon that illustrates political issues in Syria. In August 2011 Ali was kidnapped by strangers who broke his fingers and told him that’s what will happen if he keeps drawing.

At the Freedom Forum in Oslo, Ali was awarded the Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent. The award was founded with animated support of “Dagmar Havlová” the widow of Václav Havel the the late poet, playwright, and statesman.

Ever since the kidnap of Ali and the fingers break, he tends to always wiggle his hand to the camera in big events, like if he is saying I am back up on my “fingers” and able to fight back, I am drawing and I am not afraid.

The video is the speech Ali Ferzat gave at the Freedom Forum 2013.