Emad Hajjaj


Emad Hajjaj is a Palestinian-Jordanian editorial cartoonist. He is best known for his work in Al Rai and the Jordan Times daily newspapers.

Life and career

Emad was born in Jordan's West Bank in 1967. He received his art education at Yarmouk University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991 after majoring in graphic design and with a minor in journalism. Emad is the brother of Osama Hajjaj who is also a cartoonist and political caricaturist. The brothers are actually aware of the challenges involved in publishing political cartoons in strife-torn Middle East. Both have been victims of intimidation and have received death threats on account of their satirical work, especially for cartoons directed at ISIS.
During the Pan Arab games held in Amman, Emad published a cartoon which pointed out the irony that a nation could be proud when it allowed honor killings to continue. In 2008, an exhibition of his work, featuring 100 drawings was held at the city hall of Ra's al-'Ayn, and he was a contributor to the Lighting Lamps exhibition which was sponsored by the British Council.

Abu Mahjoob

Hajjaj created the cartoon character Abu Mahjoob in 1993, and has gained in popularity in Jordan since then. Abu Mahjoob represents the common Jordanian man and portrays his every day political, social, and cultural concerns. He wears a pinstripe suit and necktie along with a red keffiyeh and agal, and sports a crooked moustache.
Emad Hajjaj first drew Abu Mahjoob in 1993 as a character who hung candidate posters in the Jordanian parliamentary election that year. Hajjaj based the character on his father in terms of his witty and ironic humor.