Pierre Sadek
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Pierre Sadek | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1938 |
| Died | 24 April 2013 (aged 74–75) |
| Alma mater | Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts |
| Occupation | Caricaturist |
| Website | pierresadekfoundation.org |
Pierre Sadek (1938 – 24 April 2013) was a Lebanese caricaturist, considered a pioneer of political cartooning and a great defender of freedom of expression.[1]
Born in Zahlé,[1] he graduated from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts and worked for several newspapers, including Al Amal, Al Anwar, An-Nahar, Ad-Diyar, and Assayad magazine[2] where his caricatures of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser led to his dismissal.[3] He also collaborated with a number of international media, such as Time, France Soir and Washington Post.[1][4] In 1972 he received two Said Akl Awards. In 1986, he was the first caricaturist in Lebanon to do his drawings on TV as part of the main evening newscast.[5] He organized several exhibitions and is the author of four books.[4]
In 2012 he had to deal with a violent campaign against him because he had published a caricature of Hassan Nasrallah, head of the Shiite group Hezbollah, in the daily newspaper Al Joumhouria.[1][4] In December the same year, President Michel Suleiman named him Commander of the National Order of the Cedar.[1][4] He had previously been named Knight of the same order by President Suleiman Frangieh and Officer by both President Elias Hrawi and former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.[6]
He died at 75 at St. George Hospital in Ashrafieh after a long struggle with cancer on 24 April 2013.[3][6]
