Egypt's Islamist rulers clearly have no sense of humor—and that may contribute to their undoing. The country's top prosecutor issued an arrest warrant on March 30 for Bassem Youssef, Cairo's most popular comedian. Known as the Jon Stewart of Egypt, Youssef hosts a mock news show that evolved out of the uprising two years ago. Its spoofs and satires have become the symbol of a more tolerant society willing to make fun of its foibles. Youssef's show also reflects the cultural change that has been as important as political change in the Middle East's transformation. Comedy, hip-hop, theater, poetry and film helped give voice to the rejection of both autocrats and extremists in the decade after 9/11. That changing culture then helped embolden protesters to take to the streets in 2011. But the government of President Mohamed Morsi seems too thin-skinned to tolerate even playful criticism. The prosecutor has charged that the skits on Youssef's late-night show went too far by "insulting" Islam and mocking Morsi. But Youssef is outspoken in his adherence to his Muslim faith, and he is an equal-opportunity satirist. Originally trained as a cardiac surgeon, he raced to Tahrir Square in early 2011 to treat protesters badly beaten by baton-wielding thugs on camel-back. The experience turned him into a revolutionary committed to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. It also led to a career change. "The [revolution] triggered the idea to do a show exposing the hypocrisy that was happening," he told me last year. "So I became a comedian overnight." The first skits made fun of the ensconced elites backing Mubarak. The YouTube videos were an instant sensation at a time when social media was the revolution's primary tool. After Mubarak's ouster, Youssef was picked up by an Egyptian satellite channel. His current show is among the most popular on Egyptian TV, reaching some 30 million viewers. During the 18 months of military rule that followed Mubarak's fall, he daringly poked fun at the generals. During the first democratic presidential poll last year, he lampooned all(http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=world.time.com&blog=19871253&post=79603&subd=timeglobalspin&ref=&feed=1)
Via: TIME GlobalSpin