Satirist Bassem Youssef told the Tunisian TV Channel 9 on Saturday that banning his “Al-Bernameg” program was a message stronger than if he'd had to appear on TV and criticize the freedom situation.
“I used to work 24 hours a day with a fantastic team,” he said, adding that he would not go back to presenting on YouTube. “If circumstances do not allow Al-Bernameg to be aired again, there is no use for me.”
“The media brainwashes people with conspiracy theories and the like,” he added. “And the problem is that many believe it.”
“Terrorism will never win. It can only spread fear,” he said. “Had the Carthage Film Festival been cancelled, it would have been a victory for terrorism.”
He said the mediocrity of the Arab countries is the result of decades of authoritarian rule. “After 60 years of dictatorship people thought we would become democratic in just 18 days,” he said. “Revolutions need many years to succeed.”
“I do not regret the revolution. It was part of a whole,” Youssef added. “Europe became what it is now after long ethnic and religious conflicts.”
He said American satirist Jon Stewart is his mentor. “I was very glad to host him on my show,” he said.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
