Relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia are tense, to say the least. Last week, Saudi halted a $4billion aid deal to Lebanon, reportedly citing a lack of empathy for the raiding of the kingdom’s embassy in Tehran.
Now, in the latest incident to escalate tensions, a Saudi owned television broadcaster aired a comedy skit poking fun of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.The skit featured a man impersonating Nasrallah, kissing the hand of Iran and making fun of his lisp.
It also shows the Nasrallah character asserting that Hezbollah is not participating in the conflict in Yemen, only to have a Yemeni character jump into view asking for weapons before being slapped by the Hezbollah leader and called a liar.
Protests spread across Beirut, with tyres being burned, roads being blocked, and slogans being chanted calling for the death of Saudi royals.
Similar riots occurred in 2006 and 2013, when pro-Hezbollah demonstrators blocked streets after the portrayal of Nasrallah in comedy shows.
It is not unusual for comedy shows in Lebanon to poke fun of public figures, however there is more likely to be a violent reaction if the target of the ridicule is Hezbollah.
