Dureid Laham is the most prominent Arab personality to participate in breaking the 3-year-old siege on Gaza, the Syrian actor and satirist is perhaps the equivalent of Bob Hope, Larry David and Jon Stewart in one.
Through his most famous character, Ghawar Attoshe, and for several decades, he provided the most stinging political satire and social commentary the Arab world has seen. His 1979 play Kasak Ya Watan, (written by Mohammed Al Maghoot) took Arabic political satire to its peak, not a single following act has ever come close to it.
In another play he made the joke to co-star Nihad Qualii: Nice shoes, what brand? “Elasad” (lion), he answered, “then take care (Hafez) of them” Ghawar responded. Landed him in Hafez Asad’s infamous jails.
Jails he knows, the own experience paled in comparison upon his arrival into Gaza, after Egyptian authorities tried to prevent him for several days. He prophetically referred to entering a “big jail.”
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Love him.
Posted by Diana | July 27, 2009, 1:52 amThanks for reporting this item. None of the region's other English language media outlets reported Duraid Laham's remarkable foray into Gaza.
Posted by Abdulelah Dandachi | July 28, 2009, 6:23 amIf a person can understand the full and true meaning of Kasak Ya Watan, they will truly be people of understanding and learning!
Would that all people could grasp the meanings behind Maghout's play.
Posted by Los | July 30, 2009, 9:20 pm