Jokes Pierce Wall of Silence

SMN No. 4, June 19, 2010

Some Syrian netizens have chosen humour as a means of tackling sensitive political issues. A Facebook group called “For those who dare… Political jokes” was launched recently with a series of humorous anecdotes on politics and public issues.

The big number of jokes on corruption and repression circulating in Syria “clearly shows the high degree of political awareness of the Syrians”, said one of the creators of the group, which attracted more than 240 members in a few days.

“Every joke reveals one dark side of our political life,” he added in an interview conducted by email. The purpose of the group is to promote analysis of daily developments in Syria, he said preferring to conceal his name.

Most of those who post their jokes prefer to do so anonymously. Observers believe that Syrians resort to humour when they want to express their opinions on politics and their daily lives because they are forbidden from talking freely and openly about these issues. The posts lampoon and mock the security services, politicians and the electoral process.

One of the jokes is about security personnel  interrogating someone and torturing him to know how many times he had blown himself up. This joke likely reflects the irrational behaviour of intelligence officers when interrogating Islamists, who make up the largest number of political prisoners in the country.

One member of the group posted a video of a recent march in support of Gaza. The scene shows a TV reporter for the national Syrian television asking an elderly lady about the message she would like to convey to the people of Gaza. The woman answers, “May God protect the president, the government and the intelligence service.”