(20 Nov 2015) LEAD IN:rnA Tunisian cartoonist has launched a new book "The Perfect Dictator's Manual".rnNadia Khiari's cartoons took on a ne...
(20 Nov 2015) LEAD IN:rnA Tunisian cartoonist has launched a new book "The Perfect Dictator's Manual".rnNadia Khiari's cartoons took on a new meaning after the 2011 revolution. rnAnd she's been helped along the way by her own creation and feline friend: Willis. rnSTORY-LINE:rnMeet Willis.rnHe's from Tunis.rnWillis is one of the most famous cartoon cats in North Africa. rnThe woman behind Willis is Nadia Khiari, an art teacher at a middle school in the capital's suburbs. rnFor years she's been drawing Willis' exploits and scrapes. rnBut since 2011 - with the Tunisian Revolution - the cat has become more political. rnIt began, says Khiari, when she saw former president Ben Ali's promise freedom of speech, in exchange for staying in power: rn"As for your political requests, I understood them. Yes, I understood them and I decided to give press freedom on all levels and will not block access to the Internet, and there will be no more scrutiny over the media."rnExasperated, and pushed by her family, she posted some of her cartoons on Facebook.rnThe success was immediate. rnHundreds of people shared the posts online and Khiari carried on drawing. rnAlmost five years later, Willis is one of Tunisia's best known political commentators, with over 42,000 fans online.rn"At the beginning, there was no calculation behind (the cartoon). I did it because I felt the need to bear witness, and also to take a step back while drawing, to be able to summarise a bit more because we can quickly be extremely focused since so many things are happening. And as I went along, I continued because things continued to happen," she recalls.rnKhiari is launching her third book, 'The Perfect Dictator's Manual".rnIt's a tongue-in-cheek look at how to gain and keep power for all those would-be dictators. rnIt also includes real quotes by different dictators throughout history such as Napoleon, Hitler or Stalin.rn"I'm happy because I saw some youth, some teenagers also understand the book which I hope is somehow educational. I looked at everything that was happening, and I also did research on the situation in the world, which depressed me because there aren't that many democracies."rnKhiari says drawing and sharing her cartoons is rewarding and she receives a lot in exchange.rnPeople send her messages of support online, share info and jokes with her.rnAt the book launch, dedicated fans are receiving signed copied from Khiari. rn"It's the courage to say out loud what I think many Tunisians think on a daily basis but do not dare to say," says Brice Faravel, Tunis resident.rn"I would also say that numerous comments or puns that are in the books and the cartoons of Willis apply to many other countries other than Tunisia."rnAs a political cartoonist Khiari knows she has to be short, sharp and to the point. rn"I think it is always very striking, and I love caricatures in general, especially since I think everything can be said in very few words with great relevance, so it's a very difficult art," says Armele Lidou.rnKhiari has a wealth of inspiration to work with. rnBut she's happy to retire Willis when the time is right.rn"I continue because it amuses me. The day it doesn't amuse me any longer, I'll stop and do something else."rnLike any good satirist though, she says this with a glint of irony in her eyes. rn"I'll kill the cat the day we have a beautiful democracy in Tunisia."rnrnrnYou can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/7b0629ccec80640b31388efabcc7435f rnFind out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Less