Art as a Universal Language, Says Jordanian Cartoonist

Cartoons have long been used to provoke thought, raise questions and challenge power, but for Jordanian artist and activist Omar Abdallat, they are also a bridge between people.

ased in the capital Amman, 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 child, copying characters from television cartoons and comic books, but it was at university that I realised it could be something more.

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

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

Cartoons make me think about the people around me and 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 on my own, and what I learnt from other artists is the importance of simplicity. So I try to draw complex issues as if I were drawing them for children.

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

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

Omar Abdallat: One of my recent works is inspired by classical paintings portraying leaders from Europe and elsewhere.

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

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

UN News: You’ve worked in public spaces, refugee communities and international forums. What spaces do you find most meaningful?

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

It’s meaningful to give them a safe space where they can talk, draw and gain confidence.

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

My dream is to turn this into a global movement, to bring cartoons to every child who 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 children are very talented. Through their cartoons, you can understand their culture, background and sometimes their problems.

They share stories about racism, poverty and hate speech. In return, I try to improve their understanding of these issues.

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

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

When the Charlie Hebdo tragedy happened ten years ago, I thought: 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: Have you 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 challenges come from the environment of the Middle East, others from technology.

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

UN News: How do you keep your hope alive?

Omar Abdallat: One of the things I learnt from my late father, who was a doctor, is that he never let any patient go without fighting for their life. That’s our duty: to help people become better.

I want people who see my work to be themselves and give the best of themselves to the world, setting aside differences and believing in our shared humanity.

When darkness comes, the sun still rises. Every winter has a spring. You just have to hold on long enough to see it.