Based in the Jordanian capital, Abdallat has spent years using art to spark conversations about human rights, tolerance and social change. Thanks to his Free pen initiative, he runs workshops with young people, particularly in communities affected by displacement, helping them express their experiences and hopes through drawing.
Collaborations with UNESCO to counter hate speech, to win the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Social Entrepreneurship Summit Price in 2021, Abdallat is dedicated to supporting youth engagement in civic life.
Omar Abdallat takes a selfie with the participants of one of his cartoon workshops.
UN News spoke with Abdallat about his journey into cartooning, the role of art in crisis situations, 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 attracted you to caricature? And what does this mean for you?
Omar Abdallat: I started drawing as a child, copying cartoon characters from TV and comic books, but it was at university that I realized it could be something more.
I started drawing my teachers, then I started sharing my drawings online on Arab cartoonist sites. It was great for people to see my work, react to it and get feedback.
Eventually, it became my job – but more than that, it became a lifestyle.
Cartoons make me think of the people around me, of my society. I sometimes say that drawing is my religion because I believe it makes me a better human being.
UN News: When did you first realize that your cartoons could reach people far beyond your own community?
Omar Abdallat: I studied cartoons on my own and what I learned from other artists was the importance of simplicity. So I try to draw complex problems as if I were drawing them for children.
When I started sharing my work on Facebook, that’s when it clicked: people from all over the world were responding and reacting. That’s when I realized that cartoons are a language that everyone understands.
UN Info: Could you tell us about one of your specific works?
Omar Abdallat: For example, one of my most recent works is inspired by classic paintings depicting leaders from Europe and other parts of the world.
The scene depicts the wolf, like a sovereign, celebrating its domination over the enclosure and the sheep, while one of the sheep seems fascinated by the wolf’s charisma.
In countries where there is no real transfer of power, the very notion of homeland is distorted. Leadership is reduced to domination and loyalty is transformed from a collective principle into blind obedience.
UN News: This is a very striking image that really reflects your activism, which you have developed both through your caricatures and your initiatives. You have worked in many different settings, from public spaces to refugee communities and international forums. In which spaces do you find the most meaningful to work?
Omar Abdallat: I find my work with children and young people particularly meaningful – particularly those who are going through difficulties. It’s 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 offer them this safe space where they can talk about themselves, draw and gain confidence.
I always start by telling them the history 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, how they imagine the future.
My dream is to make this a global movement, to bring cartoons to every child who might need them, especially in places like Gaza, where being a child can be so difficult.
UN News: Do they ever surprise you with their views?
Omar Abdallat: Some children are very talented. Through their cartoons, you will be able to better understand their culture, their background and sometimes their issues.
They talk about racism, poverty and hate speech. In return, I do my best to improve their understanding of these topics.
UN News: Do you see the cartoons as a kind of healing?
Omar Abdallat: I believe in cartoons as a lifestyle. It’s the air we breathe. This is how we understand things.
When the Charlie Hebdo tragedy occurred ten years ago, I remember thinking: We need a humanitarian version of this spirit – a platform that unites rather than divides.
This idea became the seed of something I am still working on today: a “Cartoon Lab” – a network of academies where children and adults can safely express themselves through art.
UN News: As you explained, caricatures can address sensitive subjects. Have you ever encountered difficulties or resistance in your work?
Omar Abdallat: Challenge is my middle name! I used to hide it, but now I say it out loud. Some of them are due to the Middle Eastern environment, others to technology.
In the Middle East, you may fear for your life and that of your children. It’s not easy to be a designer 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, was that he never let any patient go until they were fighting for their life. This is our duty in life, to help the people around us become better.
I want people who see my work to be themselves and give their best to the world, to put aside their differences and believe in our common humanity.
When night falls, the sun always rises. Every winter has a spring. It’s part of nature. You just have to hold the time to see it.
