Cartoons published in the Arab press in response to the current wave of protests in Egypt and in the Arab world at large addressed the causes of the protests, the responses of the Arab leaders to them, and the anticipated fate of these leaders, as well as the reaction of the Americans to the protests and the key role played by the Internet in facilitating them.
The following is a sample of cartoons:
The Causes of the Protests
Unemployment, corruption, poverty, violence, ignorance, backwardness and oppression fuel unrest in the Arab street
Al-Arab (Qatar), January 29, 2011
A desperate Arab world puts itself on fire
Filastin (Gaza), January 30, 2011
The demon of unemployment, corruption, and poverty toys with Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen
Akhbar Al-Khalij (Bahrain), January 29, 2011
Having turned its back on reform, the Arab world is on the brink of the abyss
Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), January 31, 2011
Demands for freedom are threatening to burst the bottle
Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), January 31, 2011
Protest Spreads from Country to Country
The sign, held by Tunisia, calls to spread the revolution to other countries
Al-Safir (Lebanon), January 29, 2011
Egypt – the first domino of corrupt regimes to follow Tunisia
Al-Arab (Qatar), January 30, 2011
Tunisia, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt burn within the building of the Middle East
Al-Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), January 29, 2011
Two presidents (Ben Ali and Mubarak) down, 20 more to go
Al-Shurouq (Algeria), January 30, 2011
The pilots exchange news: "I've got a fleeing president," "I've got a king," "Mine's a crown prince," "I've got a first lady"
Al-Safir (Lebanon), January 28, 2011
The Arab Leaders Turn a Deaf Ear to the Protests
Al-Jarida (Kuwait), January 31, 2011
The leader tells his flunky: "Cheap gas will enable them all to put themselves on fire, and we'll be rid of them."
Al-Rai Al-'Am (Kuwait), January 29, 2011
Cartoons on the Protests in Egypt
"The Egyptian people says 'No' to Mubarak"
Al-Shurouq (Algeria), January 29, 2011
Egyptian people holds up demand for freedom
Al-Ghad (Jordan), January 30, 2011
Looters run off with stolen goods, carry off the letters making up the word "Egypt"
Al-Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), January 31, 2011
Egypt laments the acts of vandalism, arson and looting
Al-Watan (Saudi Arabia), January 31, 2011
Egypt calls for help
Akhbar Al-Khalij (Bahrain), January 31, 2011
Mubarak: "All these belong to the one percent that did not vote for me. Where are the other 99 percent?!!"
Al-Watan (Qatar), January 31, 2011
Mubarak tries to put out the flames with an eye-dropper
Akhbar Al-Khalij (Bahrain), January 31, 2011
Mubarak hangs on by a thread
Al-Arab (Qatar), January 30, 2011
The army – Mubarak's last hope
Al-Arab Al-Yawm (Jordan), January 31, 2011
The U.S.'s Role in and Reaction to the Protests
"America's help can't stop the revolution of rage"
Al-Binaa (Lebanon), January 31, 2011
The U.S., in a tub labeled "the third world" dragging skulls representing "Palestine," "Afghanistan" and Iraq," demands "freedoms first!!"
Al-Iqtisadiyya (Saudi Arabia), January 21, 2011
The Internet, Facebook and Twitter – Key Players in the Protests
"Internet in Egypt"
Al-Jarida (Kuwait), February 1, 2011
'The weapons of revolt in the third millennium"
Al-Imarat Al-Yawm (UAE), January 25, 2011
Twitter topples presidents
Al-Qabas (Kuwait), January 30, 2011