REPORT: After being beaten in Syria, Ali Farzat relaunches satirical magazine in Egypt

Sitting on his desk in a building overlooking Tahrir Square, the heart of Egypt’s 2011 uprising, Farzat sketches on white paper a tiny bird emerges, chipping and breaking off the head of an axe that sticks out of Syrian military fatigues, a symbol of Assad’s power.              

With this painting, Farzat stressed that he is coming back; bringing with him drawings that have for long shook the thrones of tyrants, at a time when no one dared to say "no".           

After his independent magazine “Al-Domari, which was founded in 2000 during a brief period of media freedom, was forced to shut in 2003, and after being kidnapped, beaten and burned in an attack he blamed on security police trying to silence him just over 12 months ago, Farzat decided to  reopen his magazine and publish his famous caricatures.              

On the other hand, Farzat stressed that he is optimistic regarding the Syrian uprising despite the bloodshed, noting that "this uprising is a humanitarian revolution, not  political one."

Farzat, who was awarded the European parliament Sakharov prize for freedom of thought, became stronger than ever and said that he understands why thousands of Syrians take to the street despite the killings and bombings, stressing that Freedom is a gift from God and should not be compromised.                 

“Every day the revolution inches a step forward. I am very optimistic. Do you see anyone turning back?” he said. “Fear has been defeated in Syria when the people marched 19 months ago against tyranny."


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