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Cartoonist Naji al-Ali

Mona Chalabi chooses Naji al-Ali, Palestinian cartoonist shot in London in 1987.

Naji al-Ali was one of the best known cartoonists in the Arab world. His creation, a little boy called Handala, always stands with his back to the viewer, hands behind his back, watching whatever Naji al-Ali has drawn. He's been picked by the Pulitzer prize winning date journalist Mona Chalabi - but is she picking the artist, or his creation, the observant little boy?

Joining Mona in studio to discuss a life that was cut short is the cartoonist Martin Rowson. Naji al-Ali was assassinated in London in 1987 at just fifty years of age. The case remains unresolved. A powerful programme that includes the voice of Naji al-Ali's son plus news archive from 1987 and 2017, the thirtieth anniversary of his death.

The producer in Bristol is Miles Warde

Release date:

28 minutes

On radio

Mon 1 Jun 2026 15:00

Broadcasts

  • Mon 1 Jun 2026 15:00
  • Tue 2 Jun 2026 21:30

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