Top commentators on Palestine
Occupation: Comedian, television host, and surgeon
Nationality: Egyptian
Location: US
Bassem Youssef is an Egyptian surgeon-turned-comedian and television host who gained fame for his groundbreaking political satire show, “Al-Bernameg.”
Known as Egypt’s Jon Stewart due to his comedic style reminiscent of the American comedian, his fearless satirical commentary on former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, the Egyptian ruling power, and alleged accusations of insulting Islam sparked numerous lawsuits and fears of arrest, ultimately prompting him to leave Egypt.
In 2013, Time magazine recognized Youssef’s influence by naming him one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and Foreign Policy magazine honored him in its top-100 list of leading global thinkers.
In November 2013, his significant contributions to media and free expression were acknowledged by the Committee to Protect Journalists, which honored him with its international press freedom award.