Cartoonist Naji al-Ali

Cartoonist Naji al-Ali

From Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

June 2, 2026 · 28 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the life and legacy of cartoonist Naji al-Ali, featuring insights from Mona Chalabi and Martin Rowson.

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 data 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

People in this episode

Guests: Mona Chalabi, Martin Rowson

Topics covered

  • cartooning
  • Arab world
  • assassination
  • art
  • history
  • media

Keywords

  • Naji al-Ali
  • cartoonist
  • Handala
  • assassination
  • Arab world
  • Mona Chalabi
  • Martin Rowson
  • history
  • art

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