Skien Welcomes New Guest Writer

Mr. Muhiaddin is a freelance cartoonist and journalist also known as Abdul Arts, though he is originally from Somalia he has lived in Egypt the last four years. 

Mr. Muhiaddin has published numerous cartoons in Somali and online newspapers, often on political and social issues such as Islamic
extremists, Somali pirates, corruption, female genital mutilation and AIDS. He has also recently published some articles on a Somali-language entertainment news website (http://www.jilaa.com/).

Muhiaddin left Mogadishu due to fear of persecution by both Al-Shabaab and government agents, arriving in Cairo, Egypt, in September 2005, where he successfully claimed asylum and has since lived. However, since October 2007 Mr. Muhiaddin has reportedly been the target of attacks and threats in Cairo which he attributes to Al-Shabaab militants based in Somalia and Egypt who are angered by his depiction of the group in his cartoons. 

Mr. Muhiaddin arrived in Skien, Norway in early November this year.