HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

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

Views:989
@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
    896 views
    Thumbnail for Home repair and maintenance hacks 1:14
    Home repair and maintenance hacks
    Gviduser
    538 views
    Thumbnail for Muh we care about you goyim go get zee jabbernancinated 0:57
    Muh we care about you goyim go get zee jabbernancinated
    bestofupgoat
    103 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
    652 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
    1053 views
    Thumbnail for How Texas Courts Can Shut Down Government Protectionism5:46
    How Texas Courts Can Shut Down Government Protectionism
    IJvids
    956 views
    Thumbnail for Kikenyahoo bloodthirst compilation (you WILL stand with yidsrael!)1:22
    Kikenyahoo bloodthirst compilation (you WILL stand with yidsrael!)
    bestofupgoat
    64 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
    1118 views
    Thumbnail for Over $455,000 Seized from Medical Marijuana Patient Slapped with Civil Asset Forfeiture5:46
    Over $455,000 Seized from Medical Marijuana Patient Slapped with Civil Asset Forfeiture
    ReasonVids
    830 views
    Thumbnail for Girl captured on motorcycle appears fine, afterwards. Still no sign of actual rape?0:03
    Girl captured on motorcycle appears fine, afterwards. Still no sign of actual rape?
    bestofupgoat
    545 views
    Thumbnail for Fitness Crackdown: Santa Monica Gets Tough On Trainers3:56
    Fitness Crackdown: Santa Monica Gets Tough On Trainers
    ReasonVids
    916 views
    Thumbnail for Hey There Europa - Pale White Skin4:20
    Hey There Europa - Pale White Skin
    cheekymusicvideos
    2571 views
    Thumbnail for Tom Bevan Talks Real Clear Politics and Election Polling5:52
    Tom Bevan Talks Real Clear Politics and Election Polling
    ReasonVids
    1001 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
    993 views
    Thumbnail for Celebrating the End of the Fairness Doctrine9:10
    Celebrating the End of the Fairness Doctrine
    ReasonVids
    888 views
    Thumbnail for Earmarks: The Alien Menace5:38
    Earmarks: The Alien Menace
    ReasonVids
    876 views
    Thumbnail for Was Kanye cloned?5:14
    Was Kanye cloned?
    AOUisgay
    452 views
    Thumbnail for #NoNewNormal & #SayNoToBillGates2:20
    #NoNewNormal & #SayNoToBillGates
    SingularityJett
    2167 views
    Thumbnail for Delta Smelt & Undocumented Farm Workers: How Federal Policy Is Failing CA's Central Valley7:47
    Delta Smelt & Undocumented Farm Workers: How Federal Policy Is Failing CA's Central Valley
    ReasonVids
    900 views
    Thumbnail for womanistalking_volumedown.gif0:46
    womanistalking_volumedown.gif
    bestofupgoat
    43 views
    Thumbnail for using a Sword is Just like PUNCHING! #sword #martialarts #hema | Sellsword Arts0:59
    using a Sword is Just like PUNCHING! #sword #martialarts #hema | Sellsword Arts
    invidious
    57 views
    Thumbnail for Explosively hydroforming a steel sphere0:18
    Explosively hydroforming a steel sphere
    bestofvoatxyz
    1750 views
    Thumbnail for September 11, 1941, Charles Lindbergh called out jews33:45
    September 11, 1941, Charles Lindbergh called out jews
    AOUisgay
    503 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
    469 views
    Thumbnail for MUST SEE: How Bill Gates Monopolized Global Health23:56
    MUST SEE: How Bill Gates Monopolized Global Health
    corbettreport_uo
    2056 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