Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat: "Maybe they thought I was dead"

Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities... because it is the quality which guarantees all others. Winston Churchill

Cartoonist Ali Ferzat founded Syria's first satirical weekly, Ad Domari, and in August 2011, was attacked by Bashar al-Assad's militia, who broke his hands. The incident prompted international condemnation of the Assad regime. Ferzat was subsequently awarded the European parliament Sakharov prize for freedom of thought.

Watch as this courageous man talks about his career and the events of August, 2011.

He will speak at IdeaFestival 2012 in an event moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist for the Lexington Herald-Leader, Joel Pett. Make plans to be there!

Wayne