13th May 2026
The Lakes International Cartoon Festival (LICAF) in the UK is facing criticism from British politicians for inviting Jordanian cartoonist Emad Hajjaj to its October 2026 edition.
These politicians, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, are demanding that public funding for the festival be withdrawn and that the invitation to Emad Hajjaj be rescinded, based on two of his cartoons criticising Israel, which they claim to be anti-Semitic.
Member of Cartooning for Peace, Emad Hajjaj was appalled to hear these accusations: “Any honest person who follows my work knows for certain that I have nothing to do with such an accusation.”
Speaking to the press, LICAF director Julie Tait stated that she had invited Emad Hajjaj to launch “an anthology of comics and cartoons on mental and physical disabilities” and asserted that the festival has “never presented anti-Semitic cartoons or comics”. This is not the first time the festival has faced criticism for inviting cartoonists critical of Israel.
Cartooning for Peace expresses its full solidarity with Emad Hajjaj and deplores a climate of extreme polarisation that encourages generalisations, exposing press cartoonists to censorship. This lack of discernment, whether sincere or feigned, seriously undermines the quality of democratic debate and freedom of expression; it fosters a culture of self-censorship, to the benefit of extreme and simplistic views.
