In conjunction with Human Rights Day today, several renowned international cartoonists have urged Malaysian authorities to end the continued harassment on Zunar.

The group of editorial cartoonists who are members of Cartooning for Peace are Patrick Chappatte (The New York Times and Le Temps, Switzerland), Jeff Danziger (The Washington Post Writers Group, USA), Lisa Donelly (The New Yorker and CBS, USA), Ann Talnaes (The Washington Post, USA), Nicholas Vadot (Le Vif/L'Express and L'Echo, Belgium) and Robert Russell, executive director of Cartoonists Right Network International.

They delivered a statement at the opening of the panel in New York at the Society of Illustrators on the evening of Dec 8.

The cartoonists said they were proud to support Zunar, whose real name is Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, whose work mostly lampooned Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

They described Zunar as "courageous and recognised" Malaysian cartoonist who had received the 2016 Cartooning for Peace Award in Geneva on May 3.

The award was to mark Zunar's contributions to freedom of expression in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day.

"By drawing and commenting on current affairs with talent, impertinence and humour, cartoonists fully and beautifully exercise freedom of expression, and thereby, extend our own freedom.

"Zunar, like other editorial cartoonists who are threatened, imprisoned or forced to flee into exile because of their drawings, deserves the full support of the international community," they said.

Tribute to Zunar

The cartoonists urged Malaysian authorities to respect Zunar's fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom of movement.

This, they added was according to the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, which Malaysia had yet to ratify.

"We join the International and Human Rights NGOs and call upon Malaysian authorities to lift the travel ban on Zunar with immediate effect and to drop the numerous sedition charges against him," they said.

"We pay tribute to Zunar and other editorial cartoonists for their courage to work and draw under very difficult circumstances in many regions of the world," they added.

Zunar was detained for the 10th time under the Sedition Act after his cartoon exhibition in Komtar, Penang on Nov 25 was thrashed by a group led by Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim.

Rafizal accused Zunar of insulting and lying about Najib, who is also BN and Umno chief.

In Penang, Zunar was also detained for 24 hours under Section 504 of the Penal Code for attempting to breach peace.

Zunar has filed a legal challenge against his travel ban purportedly imposed on police orders.