Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat receives award

Ali Ferzat, the Syrian cartoonist who beaten by members of the security forces last August, was named last night as winner in the arts section of this year's Index Freedom of Expression Awards. Ferzat's work satirised Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the police state in Syria. Accepting the award in London last night, he said: "Artists are an integral part of any popular revolt. Their work encourages people to participate and take part in the revolution." The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) received the Bindmans award for advocacy for documenting human rights violations, political repression and torture in the Gulf kingdom. The award was accepted by BCHR president Nabeel Rajab, who was severely beaten by security forces earlier this year.