No more Sense of humor in Lebanon? - Ein Gastkommentar

Nach der für libanesische Verhältnisse relativ geräuschlosen und schnellen Wahl Saad Hariris scheint fürs Erste Ruhe in den Zedernstaat einzukehren. Zwar steht die endgültige Regierungsbildung noch aus und fundamentale Fragen sind noch immer nicht geklärt. Dennoch richten sich die Libanesen zurzeit ihren Blick auf die "Sommerpause" von der Politik - deren Höhepunkt bilden tradtionell die Sommerfestivals, die oft auch internationale Stars anlocken.

Eines der bekanntesten Festivals in Beit ad-Din, inmitten einer Schlosskulisse im Chouf-Gebirge, sollte in diesem Jahr mit einem besonderen Highlight aufwarten - dem französisch-marokkanischen Komiker Gad El-Maleh, der eine große libanesische Fangemeinde besitzt. Allerdings sah sich der jüdischstämmige El-Maleh gezwungen, die Aufführung seines Bühnenprogramms Papa est en haut am 13.,14. und 15. Juli 2009 abzusagen, nachdem im Libanon eine öffentliche Diskussion über El-Maleh, seine Vergangenheit und insbesondere sein Verhältnis zu Israel entbrannte.

Der Hizb Allah-Sender Al-Manar hatte die Diskussion angefacht und Anfang Juni behauptet, El-Maleh sei nicht nur ein Befürworter Israels, sondern habe gar in der israelischen Armee gedient. El-Maleh und die Veranstalterin des Beit ad-Din-Festivals Nura Jumblatts, Frau von Walid Joumblatt) wiesen die Vorwürfe als unbegründet und das von al-Manar veröffentlichte Foto als Verwechslung zurück. Der Sender besteht aber weiterhin auf seiner Darstellung und verweist auf Aussagen El-Malehs in einem TV-Interview.
Inzwischen wird auf diversen Foren und auch bei Facebook heiß über den Fall El-Maleh diskutiert, nicht wenige sehen ihn stellvertretend für die Fragen von kultureller Freiheit und politischer Stellungnahme.
Eine libanesische Freundin legt uns in dem folgenden Kommentar ihre Sichtweise dar:

It happened once in 1990 and here it happens again in 2009! Gad El-Maleh cancelled his tour to Lebanon just like Patrick Bruel did in the 1990. What is common between these two artists? They are both French, Jew and they are accused to support Israel.

It all started when Al Manar Television started to broadcast right after the Beiteddine organizing committee announced this year program which includes a 3 day appearance for the French Morrocan comedian, reports about El-Maleh claiming that he fought in the Israeli Defense Forces and he is "Israel's Francophone Ambassador". Whether those accusations are true or not are still a subject of debate and controversy in the country.

Lebanese as usual are split between those defending El-Maleh and whishing that he could change his mind about coming back to Lebanon and disregard all the rumors that were fabricated to distort his image and those who are strictly against his coming and demanding a boycott of the Pro Israeli Artist.

El-Maleh was scheduled to put on two performances in Lebanon, but due to overwhelming demand the sponsors added a third date on this tour. Of course this was prior to the large media campaign conducted against the French comic. El-Maleh’s tour of Lebanon was sold out; but this fact did not stop those who masterminded this campaign to tarnish his reputation against what they described as an “Israeli attempt to infiltrate Lebanon.”

In so many words Hizbullah has accused Walid Jumblatt, through the festival organized by his wife, Nora, of wanting to bring an Israeli soldier to Lebanon. Hizbullah emphasized also the fact that the performance of Gad El Maleh on July the 12th coincides with the 3rd anniversary of the Israeli war against Lebanon and thus will be offensive against the Lebanese people.

It may be true that Gad El-Maleh is a supporter of Israel and it may be true that he finds “Zionism the perfect political system to safeguard the Jews” but what does his statements has to do with culture and humor? This artist is coming to Lebanon to perform on a public stage that is neither Israeli nor Jew. He didn’t come to remind us of our differences and our never ending split between a 14th and an 8th march. He is not here to open subjects about the role of the state and the weapon of Hizbullah. He is not here to talk about the Palestinian refugees in the camps and their missing rights. And most importantly he did not come here to resolve the Middle Eastern conflict. He just came to offer us some laughs and present to us an innovative show.

The questions that lots of Lebanese are asking to themselves now are what next? Is Hizbullah going to be always allowed to practice censorship on things they find a threat to their presence? Are Woody Allen movies and Freud books are going to be banned? Where is the role of the government in this entire affair? Why there were no charges pressed against Al Manar which is accused of disinformation or basing it’s reporting on dubious sources? And finally is this going to be repeated in the future and what are the guarantees?