Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff
“Nearly two months after their liberation from a half-century of dictatorship, Syrians appear to be shaping their future as much as the country’s new de facto ruler, former Islamist rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. And many are doing it through laughter. Since the fall of the Assad regime Dec. 8, a collective of 20 comedians has toured the country entertaining thousands of people in various venues with uncensored humor. They are taking advantage of Syria’s newfound freedom of expression and equality. And their audiences are as diverse as the comedy collective itself, reflecting Syria’s ethnic and religious groups. ‘If we can laugh together, we can live together,’ Malke Mardinali, co-founder of the Styria Comedy Club, told New Lines Magazine. One audience member said about the show, ‘We feel at home here. We can laugh about anything and as much as we want – no one is watching us anymore.'” (02/03/25)
https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2025/0203/Mirthful-mingling-in-Syria