HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Bassem Youssef Was 'Egypt's Jon Stewart.' Then He Was Forced To Flee.

Views:975
@ReasonVids

The Arab world's top satirist mercilessly mocked the Islamists and military men who took power during the Egyptian revolution. Then he was censored, persecuted, and driven out.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/reasontv
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine/
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason
Subscribe to our podcast at iTunes: https://goo.gl/az3a7a

Reason is the planet's leading source of news, politics, and culture from a libertarian perspective. Go to reason.com for a point of view you won't get from legacy media and old left-right opinion magazines.

----------------

Bassem Youssef, known as the "Jon Stewart of Egypt," was the host of the most popular television show in the history of the Arab world. A heart surgeon by training, he was inspired by The Daily Show frontman to start a weekly YouTube show in 2011, just as the Egyptian revolution and Arab Spring were getting underway. He taped it from his laundry room.

Called Al-Bernameg, which means "The Show," its audience grew to 30 million per episode.

"The value of satire is that it humanizes people in power," Youssef tells Reason's Justin Monticello, those "considered holy."

Youssef's downfall began with a viral segment mocking President Mohamed Morsi's hat in 2013. In March, a warrant was issued for his arrest for insulting the president and Islam. So Youssef offered to turn himself in—wearing his Morsi hat.

Though he was released on bail, it was the beginning of the end. Three months later, the military deposed and jailed Morsi, dissolved the constitution, and silenced the critical press. General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi became the new ruler of Egypt, and his regime didn't take kindly to mockery.

What followed is the subject of Youssef's new memoir, Revolution for Dummies, and the documentary Tickling Giants by The Daily Show Senior Producer Sara Taksler, which is available online.

The Show lasted just one airing after Sisi became president. Youssef was slapped with the largest fine in the history of Egyptian media. Sensing that he would soon be arrested and prevented from traveling out of the country, he threw a few personal belongings into a suitcase and rushed to the airport.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Youssef discusses the limits of satire, political correctness, comedy on college campuses, Trump, how political leaders use religion, and more.

Produced by Justin Monticello. Cameras by Paul Detrick and Alex Manning. Music by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOfrkB-28NE) and Pavel Malkov (https://www.jamendo.com/track/1225248/07-theme-from-forgotten?language=en).

libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
,
bassem youssef
,
justin monticello
,
free speech
,
censorship
,
egypt
,
jon stewart
,
arab spring
,
satire
    Thumbnail for 'City of Ghosts' Tells the Story of Citizen Journalists Fighting ISIS Propaganda7:31
    'City of Ghosts' Tells the Story of Citizen Journalists Fighting ISIS Propaganda
    ReasonVids
    882 views
    Thumbnail for Hey There Europa - Pale White Skin4:20
    Hey There Europa - Pale White Skin
    cheekymusicvideos
    2551 views
    Thumbnail for no matter where I go I feel the pain with or without you 0:27
    no matter where I go I feel the pain with or without you
    bestofupgoat
    449 views
    Thumbnail for How Texas Courts Can Shut Down Government Protectionism5:46
    How Texas Courts Can Shut Down Government Protectionism
    IJvids
    944 views
    Thumbnail for MUST SEE: How Bill Gates Monopolized Global Health23:56
    MUST SEE: How Bill Gates Monopolized Global Health
    corbettreport_uo
    2037 views
    Thumbnail for Peter Schiff Speaks for 1 Percent at Occupy Wall Street18:46
    Peter Schiff Speaks for 1 Percent at Occupy Wall Street
    ReasonVids
    865 views
    Thumbnail for Gangs in Control of American Prisons: "The Social Order of the Underworld"9:32
    Gangs in Control of American Prisons: "The Social Order of the Underworld"
    ReasonVids
    1060 views
    Thumbnail for sandy cheeks the jungle book | matt knezz4:57
    sandy cheeks the jungle book | matt knezz
    mattkne
    71 views
    Thumbnail for Solar Eclipse: Republicans, Democrats, & Libertarians React!0:58
    Solar Eclipse: Republicans, Democrats, & Libertarians React!
    ReasonVids
    898 views
    Thumbnail for Hernando de Soto Knows How To Make the Third World Richer than the First20:52
    Hernando de Soto Knows How To Make the Third World Richer than the First
    ReasonVids
    810 views
    Thumbnail for The Hidden World of Campus Conservatives10:10
    The Hidden World of Campus Conservatives
    ReasonVids
    854 views
    Thumbnail for The Curse of Canaan (Eustace Mullins) Audiobook - Chapter 544:22
    The Curse of Canaan (Eustace Mullins) Audiobook - Chapter 5
    AOUisgay
    518 views
    Thumbnail for Introducing Angry Birds Gaming Channel! | Angry Birds Gaming3:16
    Introducing Angry Birds Gaming Channel! | Angry Birds Gaming
    invidious
    347 views
    Thumbnail for Swimming owl0:45
    Swimming owl
    bestofupgoat
    30 views
    Thumbnail for LA Forces Condoms onto Porn Actors! (Nanny of the Month, Jan 2012)1:23
    LA Forces Condoms onto Porn Actors! (Nanny of the Month, Jan 2012)
    ReasonVids
    641 views
    Thumbnail for Celebrating the End of the Fairness Doctrine9:10
    Celebrating the End of the Fairness Doctrine
    ReasonVids
    866 views
    Thumbnail for Tom Bevan Talks Real Clear Politics and Election Polling5:52
    Tom Bevan Talks Real Clear Politics and Election Polling
    ReasonVids
    974 views
    Thumbnail for September 11, 1941, Charles Lindbergh called out jews33:45
    September 11, 1941, Charles Lindbergh called out jews
    AOUisgay
    487 views
    Thumbnail for Gavin Newsom Joins Trump's Truth Social, People Think He'll Run In 202419:31
    Gavin Newsom Joins Trump's Truth Social, People Think He'll Run In 2024
    rumblevids
    1099 views
    Thumbnail for The Truth About Dive Bombing During World War II | American Veterans Center0:52
    The Truth About Dive Bombing During World War II | American Veterans Center
    invidious
    114 views
    Thumbnail for Grover Norquist: GOP Tax Bill Is Good Enough For Now (He's Planning to 'Whine Later')27:48
    Grover Norquist: GOP Tax Bill Is Good Enough For Now (He's Planning to 'Whine Later')
    ReasonVids
    804 views
    Thumbnail for Trump's Tariffs Are Hiking the Price of Your Favorite Whisky2:25
    Trump's Tariffs Are Hiking the Price of Your Favorite Whisky
    ReasonVids
    1030 views
    Thumbnail for Fitness Crackdown: Santa Monica Gets Tough On Trainers3:56
    Fitness Crackdown: Santa Monica Gets Tough On Trainers
    ReasonVids
    895 views
    Thumbnail for Gov. Scott Walker Welcomes National School Choice Week to Wisconsin2:18
    Gov. Scott Walker Welcomes National School Choice Week to Wisconsin
    ReasonVids
    976 views

points

Permalink
Reply
libertarian
,
reason magazine
,
reason.com
,
reason.tv
,
reasontv
,
bassem youssef
,
justin monticello
,
free speech
,
censorship
,
egypt
,
jon stewart
,
arab spring
,
satire
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle