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Outlook: Bassem Youssef: Egypt’s revolutionary comedian

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Bassem Youssef

19/08/2019 GMT

Bassem Youssef: Egypt’s revolutionary comedian

BBC World Service - Outlook, Bassem Youssef: Egypt’s revolutionary comedian

From heart surgeon to Arab Spring satirist – the rise and fall of Bassem Youssef

Egyptian doctor Bassem Youssef gave up his surgical scrubs to become a satirist during the Arab Spring. But his political parodies soon landed him in trouble with the authorities.

Bassem Youssef was a heart surgeon in Cairo during the Arab Spring when he started poking fun at the politicians in power.  His style of subversive comedy was ground-breaking, and Bassem soon became one of the best known comedians in the Middle East. For a while he was described as 'Egypt's Jon Stewart'. Bassem's television show was wildly popular but his fan base didn't extend to the Egyptian authorities. His show was cancelled and soon he had to flee his home.  He talks to Jo Fidgen about the personal price of satire in Egypt's revolution.

Image: Bassem Youssef
Credit: Kareem Mazhar

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