Z (cartoonist)

Z (dem often stylize am as _Z_) be de nom de plume of an anonymous Tunisian political cartoonist den online activist wey ein humorous cartoons den writings appear for ein online blog DébaTunisie top, wich he launch insyd 2007, wey na he target de government of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali den de administrations wey follow de Tunisian Revolution of 2011.

 History 
Z, an architect, launch ein blog for August 28, 2007. He first begin dey criticize government development projects insyd de Tunisian capital, Tunis, den de fact say residents get no say for de matter top. Z believe dat de government ein plans threaten de natural habitat of de city ein local flamingo population. A signature pink flamingo later cam turn ein blog ein mascot, wey e appear insyd chaw of ein future drawings. Insyd 2008, he start dey post cartoons for DébaTunisie top. Na among ein first drawings be one of a small demonstration by a group of pink flamingos wey dey protest de government ein projects. Ein first cartoon dey feature de country ein presido, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, na dem post insyd March 2009, ahead of de upcoming presidential election dat same year, wich dey depict men insyd a mosque wey dey bow insyd de direction of a mural portrait of Ben Ali instead of Mecca.

De government take notice of ein online activism insyd October 2009 after he draw a cartoon dem title "La Comédie électorale", two days dey follow Ben Ali ein re-election. A month later, authorities arrest den later release an online blogger den university professor dem name Fatma Riahi, dem wrongly assume say she be be Z, wey na dem already try make dem shut down ein blog.

Post-revolution
Insyd de days den months wey dey follow de stepping down of Ben Ali for January 14, 2011, Z post a series of cartoons about ein optimistic vision for a Tunisia insyd wich de country ein social den political constituents, particularly secularists den Islamists, fi coexist peacefully. He choose, however,make he remain anonymous, wey he dey believe dat "nothing really changed" for regards to Tunisia ein censorship issue.

Dey follow Tunisia ein first free election since Ben Ali ein overthrow, wich see de Islamist Ennahda Movement win de majority of seats, Z attract criticism from Islamists den online followers secof sam cartoons wey na dem perceive as e dey diss Islam. For August 7, 2012, he wrep for ein blog: "It is evident that I will soon be regarded as an outlaw the moment the Constituency validates the anti-blasphemy law."

Style
Among de noticeable themes insyd Z ein writings den cartoons be de "mauves", supporters of de government of Ben Ali, wey he dey bell "Zaba" (acronym of ein full name). He sanso dey refer to Islamists as de "bleus", wey dem be under de leadership of "Zaballah", a play for words wey dey merge Zaba (de initials of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali) plus "Allah". Anoda recurrent feature insyd ein cartoons be de "Ben Simpsons" family, wey dey represent de typical secular Tunisian bourgeoisie wey be alarmed by de country ein political developments.
 References 

Category:1979 births
Category:Human
Category:Tunisian cartoonists
Category:Tunisian people
Category:Freedom of expression insyd Africa
Category:Pseudonymous artists
Category:People of de Tunisian revolution

External links
DEBATunisie - official website of Z