2019
Ahmed Albasheer
Comedian
The Albasheer Show
Ahmed Albasheer is an Iraqi comedian, journalist, director, and host of The Albasheer Show, a weekly political satire program that humorizes Iraqi politics. Heavily influenced by comedians Jon Stewart and George Carlin, Ahmed began the show in 2014 as a tool to fight corruption, sectarianism, extremism, and terrorism in Iraq and the surrounding region. Having been banned from Iraqi television station, the show is recorded in Jordan and Turkey and broadcast weekly YouTube, Facebook, and Deutsche Welle’s Arabic channel. It reaches a weekly audience of over 7 million people, the majority of whom area under age 30.
Ahmed was born and raised in Anbar, Iraq, fleeing the country in 2011 after suffering injuries by a suicide bomber. He trained as a traditional journalist before switching to political satire, believing the latter to be a more effective tool of communication and influence. Ahmed has been named one of the twenty most influential people in the Arab World by Swiss-based Global Influence Research Centre.
The 2019 World Fellows
An open data innovator from China, a Nigerian Olympian and sports advocate, and a Chilean National Geographic conservationist are among the 16 women and men who have been selected as 2019 World Fellows. This cohort brings the total number of World Fellows since the program’s start in 2002 to 346 Fellows, representing 91 countries. This year marks the 18th cohort of World Fellows. “I am honored to announce the 2019 World Fellows,” said Emma Sky, director of the Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program. “Their courage, ingenuity and passion will be an inspiration to us all at Yale.” The World Fellows program is Yale University’s signature global leadership development initiative...Read More
MORE ABOUT AHMED
ALBASHEER SHOW English | Episode 1 | Iraqocracy
Photo Credit: Chad Batka for The New York Times
New York Times: ‘You Are Killing Us? We Will Make You a Joke.’ Meet Ahmed Albasheer.
The New York Times - 12/26/2019Podcast Ep: 38 - 2019 World Fellow Ahmed al-Basheer
Ahmed al-Basheer talks about how his life was changed by the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, why he became a comedian, the protests in Iraq, and his hopes for his country.