Thomas Nast would be proud:

An Algerian cartoonist who has faced death threats and legal harassment for his work, and 11 Danes whose cartoons in the newspaper "Jyllands—Posten" last year sparked a storm of controversy, have been named winners of the CRN Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning.

Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) announced the award winners at a ceremony in Denver, U.S.A, on 9 June 2006. "CRN is proud to stand in support of cartoonists to express their points of view, whether popular or not," said CRNI President Joel Pett.

Algerian cartoonist Ali Dilem has been practicing his craft for more than 15 years, and has been jailed and threatened on more than one occasion. CRNI said it chose to recognise Dilem because of his refusal to choose exile or self—censorship in the face of intimidation.

Hat tip: Ummah News Links