‘A language everyone understands’: Jordanian cartoonist on art as hope

Based in the capital of Jordan, Abdallat has spent years using art to spark conversations on human rights, tolerance and social change. Through his Free Pen initiative, he leads workshops with young people, especially in communities affected by displacement, helping them express their experiences and hopes through drawing.

From collaborations with UNESCO to counter hate speech, to winning the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Social Entrepreneurship Summit Award in 2021, Abdallat is dedicated to supporting youth engagement in civic life.

UN News spoke with Abdallat about his journey into cartooning, the role of art in crisis settings and why he believes even the smallest drawing can spark a global conversation.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

UN News: What first drew you to cartooning? And what does it mean to you?

Omar Abdallat: I first started drawing as a kid, copying characters from cartoon shows on television and comic books, but it was at university that I realised it could be something more.

I began sketching my professors, then started sharing my cartoons online on websites for Arab cartoonists. It was great for people to see my work, respond to it and get feedback.

Eventually, it became my profession – but more than that, it became a lifestyle.

Cartoons make me think about the people around me, about my society. I sometimes say cartooning is my religion because I believe it makes me a better human being.

UN News: When did you first realise your cartoons could reach people far beyond your own community?

Omar Abdallat: I studied cartoons by myself and what I learnt from other artists is the importance of simplicity. So, I try to draw complex issues as if I was drawing them for children.

When I started sharing my work on Facebook is when it clicked: people from across the world were responding and reacting. That’s when I understood that cartoons are a language everyone understands.

UN News: Could you share about a particular work of yours?

Omar Abdallat: For instance, one of my most recent works is inspired by classical paintings portraying leaders from Europe and other parts of the world.

The scene depicts the wolf, in the image of a ruler, celebrating his dominance over the pen and the sheep, while one of the sheep appears fascinated by the wolf’s charisma.

In countries where there is no genuine transfer of power, the very notion of the homeland becomes distorted. Leadership is reduced to domination and loyalty transforms from a collective principle into blind obedience.

UN News: That’s a very striking image and really reflects your activism, which you’ve developed both through your cartoons and your initiatives. You’ve worked in many different settings, from public spaces to refugee communities and international forums. What spaces do you find most meaningful to work in?

Omar Abdallat: I find my work with children and young people especially meaningful – particularly with those going through challenges. It feels like we’re not just drawing but empowering them through cartoons, to help them believe in their own stories again.

It’s very meaningful to give them this safe space where they can talk about themselves, draw and gain some confidence.

I always begin by telling them the story of cartoons – where it came from, what it means. Then I teach them to draw step by step. Once they have the basics, we start talking about deeper things like their rights, the environment, the way they imagine the future.

My dream is to turn this into a global movement, to bring cartoons to every child that might need it, especially in places like Gaza where being a child can be so hard.

UN News: Do they ever surprise you with their perspectives?

Omar Abdallat: Some kids are very talented. Through their cartoons, you can better understand their culture, their background and sometimes their problems.

They share about racism, poverty and hate speech. In return, I do my best to improve their understanding of these topics.

UN News: Do you see cartoons as a kind of healing?

Omar Abdallat: I believe in cartoons as a lifestyle. It’s the air we breathe. It’s the way we understand things.

When the Charlie Hebdo tragedy happened ten years ago, I remember thinking: we need a humanitarian version of that spirit – a platform that unites rather than divides.

That idea became the seed for something I’m still working on today: a “Cartoon Lab” – a network of academies where children and adults can express themselves safely through art.

UN News: As you’ve explained, cartoons can touch on sensitive topics. Have you ever faced challenges or resistance to your work?

Omar Abdallat: Challenge is my middle name! I used to hide this but now I say it out loud. Some of them are due to the environment of the Middle East, some because of technology.

In the Middle East, you can feel afraid for your life and the life of your children. It’s not easy to be a cartoonist here in general.

UN News: How do you keep your hope alive?

Omar Abdallat: One of the things I learned from my late father who was a doctor is that he never let any patient go until he fought for their life. That’s our duty in life, to help people around us become better.

I want people who see my work to be themselves and to give the best of themselves to the world, to put aside their differences and believe in our common humanity.

When darkness comes around, the sun still rises. Every winter has a spring. It’s part of nature. You just have to hold on long enough to see it.