...and the next sound you hear is the microphone being turned off and the comedian being assaulted.
"Bearded Muslims appeared at my show....I was afraid, I'm not superman. I was there to have a good evening and a laugh, not to get beaten up."
Tunisian comedian Lotfi Abdelli was "not Muslim enough" in Tunisia. Welcome to another chapter of the "Arab Spring."
Salafists block Tunisia comedy show that 'offends Islam'
Radical Islamists obstructed a stand-up comedy performance by Tunisian actor Lotfi Abdelli, the ministry of culture said on Wednesday, accusing those responsible of attacking freedom of expression.
"The attack by people associated with the Salafist movement on the Bayrem Ettounsi cultural centre in the town of Menzel Bourguiba" prevented Lotfi's show "100% Halal" from taking place, the ministry said in a statement.
"This type of activity amounts to an attack on freedom of expression and a dangerous threat to cultural rights," it said, adding that the relevant authorities had filed a judicial complaint.
The comedian told private radio station Mosaique FM that the imam of the town in northern Tunisia had called for the show to be disrupted and accused Abdelli of offending Islam.
"Bearded Muslims appeared at my show... They came and laid their prayer mats down in the auditorium in the morning, saying they were going to pray all day long," he said.
"The security forces were there and they told us that they hadn't received any orders to intervene," Abdelli added.
"I was afraid, I'm not superman. I was there to have a good evening and a laugh, not to get beaten up."
"Bearded Muslims appeared at my show....I was afraid, I'm not superman. I was there to have a good evening and a laugh, not to get beaten up."
From RNW August 15
Radical Islamists obstructed a stand-up comedy performance by Tunisian actor Lotfi Abdelli, the ministry of culture said on Wednesday, accusing those responsible of attacking freedom of expression.
"The attack by people associated with the Salafist movement on the Bayrem Ettounsi cultural centre in the town of Menzel Bourguiba" prevented Lotfi's show "100% Halal" from taking place, the ministry said in a statement.
"This type of activity amounts to an attack on freedom of expression and a dangerous threat to cultural rights," it said, adding that the relevant authorities had filed a judicial complaint.
The comedian told private radio station Mosaique FM that the imam of the town in northern Tunisia had called for the show to be disrupted and accused Abdelli of offending Islam.
"Bearded Muslims appeared at my show... They came and laid their prayer mats down in the auditorium in the morning, saying they were going to pray all day long," he said.
"The security forces were there and they told us that they hadn't received any orders to intervene," Abdelli added.
"I was afraid, I'm not superman. I was there to have a good evening and a laugh, not to get beaten up."
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