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Abdulrahman Thaher

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Abdulrahman Thaher
Abdulrahman Thaher in 2014
Born
Abdulrahman Asad Thaher

(1982-12-31) December 31, 1982 (age 42)
United Arab Emirates
Citizenship State of Palestine
 Jordan
EducationBachelor's degree, An-Najah National University
Occupation(s)Satirical writer
Actor
Director
Journalist
Architect.[1]
Years active2004–present
OrganizationInternational Federation of Journalists
TelevisionFenjan Albalad
Sukaj
In the Presence of Justice
SpouseRasha Thaher (married 2010–present)[2]
Children3
FamilyZahir al-Umar
AwardsThe 11th Alexandria Festival for Arab Youth Award.[3][4]
Websitethahers.com/en

Abdulrahman Asad Thaher, (Arabic: عبد الرحمن ظاهر, romanized: ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Ẓāhir; born 31 December 1982) is a Palestinian-Jordanian actor, director, satirical screenwriter, journalist and human rights defender.[5][6][7]

Life and career

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Abdulrahman Thaher was born in 1982 in the United Arab Emirates to a Palestinian family originally from Nablus, located in the northern West Bank of Palestine.[5]

He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in 2007 at An-Najah National University and completed his studies in directing and acting. He has also written, directed, and performed in Fenjan Albalad, Sukaj, and In the Presence of Justice,[7] which are known for their black comedy style.

Thaher has been the Production Department Manager at Wattan TV, Director of International Production at the Media Center of An-Najah National University, and Senior Producer at Smalink Media Production Company in Beirut. Thaher has produced television programs for Jordan's Roya TV and Al Araby Television Network in London.[1]

He has faced prosecution and arrests.[6][1]

Arrests and trials

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Arrests by the Palestinian Authority

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In August 2018, Abdulahman Thaher was arrested at the Palestinian border crossings upon his return from Lebanon to Palestine, following an immediate arrest warrant issued against him due to his satirical and critical television programs produced outside of Palestine. He was subsequently released by the Palestinian Public Prosecution due to the absence of a definitive indictment.[5]

In August 2020, Thaher was detained by the Palestinian Preventive Security during the night as he was leaving An-Najah National University. He was subjected to solitary confinement and intensive interrogation for a period of one and a half months on allegations of defaming the Palestinian Authority through his television work.[5][8]

Media coverage and calls for release

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Numerous Palestinian activists, human rights defenders, and journalists held protests against the Palestinian Authority's arrest of Thaher in August and September 2020. They demonstrated against the poor conditions of his detention and his declining health, gathering outside the court in Nablus and the Palestinian Prime Minister's office in Ramallah.[9] Thaher's arrest sparked widespread discussion on social media and in Palestinian, Arab, and international media. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and various international human rights groups monitored the situation.[10] At that time, the Palestinian Authority faced accusations of infringing on freedom of expression and fabricating charges against political activists and journalists. This pressure led to Thaher's conditional release in September 2020, but his trial continued under the Cybercrime Law.[9][6]

Acquittal

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In January 2022, a Nablus court sentenced Thaher to three months in prison for defaming the Palestinian Authority.[1] The ruling sparked strong reactions from journalists and activists, leading to the intervention of international human rights organizations. They urged the Palestinian Authority to protect Thaher and other journalists, and called for an end to violations against the political opposition. As a result, the sentence was suspended while Thaher’s legal team appealed the decision. Ultimately, the Court of Appeal ruled in Thaher’s favor, acquitting him of all charges after two years of trials.[5][11]

Arrest in Israel

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In October 2020, just a few weeks after Thaher was released from Palestinian Authority prisons, the IDF arrested him at his home in Nablus. They questioned him about his television work outside of Palestine. A month later, an Israeli court ruled to release him.[12][13]

Filmography

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Television

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Series

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Abdulrahman Thaher during the filming of the TV series "Sukaj" in Jordan (2015)
Year Title Genre Country of production Role Channel Ref.
2013 Fenjan Albalad (S1) drama, black comedy, and satire  Palestine Director, writer and Leading actor Roya TV channel [14]
2013 In the Presence of Justice drama, crime, and vagueness  Palestine Director and writer Wattan TV [7]
2014 Fenjan Albalad (S2) drama, black comedy, and satire  Jordan Director, writer and Leading actor Roya TV channel [15]
2015 Fenjan Albalad (S3) drama, black comedy, and satire  Jordan Director, writer and Leading actor Al Araby TV channel [16]
2015 Sukaj (S1) black comedy  Jordan Director, writer and main Leading actor Al Araby TV channel
2016 Sukaj (S2) black comedy  Jordan Director, writer and Leading actor Al Araby TV channel [17]
2020 What's up comedy  Palestine Writer and Leading actor NBC TV

Animated series

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Year Title Genre Country Role Ref.
2017 Abu Saleh (S1) farce drama and black comedy  Jordan Writer, director and Leading actor
2019 Abu Saleh (S2) farce drama and black comedy  Lebanon Writer, director and Leading actor

Programs

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Year Title Genre Country of production Role Channel Ref.
2012 The other opinion talk show and politics  Palestine Producer and director Wattan TV [18]
2013 Upside down entertainment and vox pop  Palestine Director Roya TV [15]
2014 Zinko talk show, politics, and news satire  Palestine

 Jordan

Producer, director and presenter Roya TV [19][20]
2015 Ghabash (S1) entertainment, vox pop, and challenges  Jordan Producer, director and presenter Al Araby [21]
2015 Archive curriculum vitae  Jordan Producer, director and presenter Al Araby [22]
2016 Ghabash (S2) entertainment, vox pop, and challenges  Jordan Producer, director and presenter Roya TV [23]
2016 Mute social and political commentary  Palestine Executive Producer Roya TV [24]
2017 Hilal Mawwal entertainment and talk show  Lebanon Senior Producer Al Quds [5]
2018 Yours or the wolf's? reality show and riddles  Lebanon Producer, director and presenter Al Quds [5]
2019 Ghabash (S3) entertainment, vox pop, and challenges  Palestine Producer, director and presenter Roya TV [25]
2020 Accordingly recursive self-improvement  Palestine Writer and presenter NBC TV [26]
2020 Trick (S1) reality show, riddles, and prizes  Palestine Producer, director and presenter Roya TV [27]
2021 Trick (S2) reality show, riddles, and prizes  Palestine Producer, director and presenter Roya TV

Film

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Year Title Genre Role Ref.
2005 Paradise Now psychological drama Actor [28]
2016 Mute farce drama Producer

Plays

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Year Title Genre Countries of shows Role Director Ref.
2005 Memory Page realism  Palestine ًPlaywright and leading actor Gufran Odah
2007 Flash Back black comedy  Palestine

 Jordan

ًPlaywright and leading actor Said Sada
2008 There on the Other Shore psychological drama  Palestine

 Egypt

Leading actor Fathi Abdul Rahman [29][30]

Radio

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Year Title Genre Country Role Ref.
2013 In court drama, crime, and vagueness  Palestine Writer, director, and leading actor

Awards

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  • 11th Alexandria Festival for Arab Youth Award in 2008, "There on the Other Shore".[29][30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "PA sentences journalist to three months in prison". Middle East Monitor. 21 January 2022. Archived from the original on 13 January 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Thahr's wife to Watan: His arrest negatively affected his health". Wattan News Agency. 21 September 2020.
  3. ^ "8 Awards for Palestine at the Arab Youth Festival". Ma'an News Agency. Archived from the original on 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  4. ^ "Sarcasm and eloquence in a time of bitterness and waiting". Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "The director Abdulrahman Thaher". (Thahers). Archived from the original on 2025-02-23. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  6. ^ a b c "Israeli forces arrest Palestinian filmmaker Abdulrahman Thaher at his home in Nablus". Committee to Protect Journalists. 28 October 2020. Archived from the original on 4 March 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Ayasah, Raed (3 December 2013). "Interview with Director Abdulrahman Thaher". (Oroba News). Archived from the original on 23 January 2025.
  8. ^ "Palestine: Demand for the immediate release of journalist Abdel-Rahman Daher". (Geneva Council for Rights and Justice). 15 September 2020. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b "PA accused of being 'a police state' over its detention of Palestinian film director". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  10. ^ Winfield, Richard N. "Defeating a Patriotic Law Prosecution (Report)" (PDF). Global Freedom of Expression. Columbia University.
  11. ^ "Court orders prison sentence and a fine for a journalist on charges of demeaning the Palestinian Authorities – AOHRUK". Archived from the original on 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  12. ^ "Israeli forces arrest Palestinian filmmaker Abdulrahman Thaher at his home in Nablus". SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom. Archived from the original on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  13. ^ "Journalist arrested by Israel just weeks after being freed by Palestinian Authority". Reporters Without Borders. 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Fenjan Al Balad, a Palestinian comedy with different flavors". Al Jazeera Media Network. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  15. ^ a b "Palestinian black comedy". (Noon Post). 12 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  16. ^ ""Finjan Al Balad" with an Arabic touch from London". Quds News Network. 21 May 2015.
  17. ^ "The most prominent Palestinian comedy stars on Arab screens during Ramadan". Wattan News.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "The other opinion - Calls from Jenin to support the role of youth in political forces". (Wattan TV).[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Zahir: We wanted to create new media with "Zinko" and no one can stop us". Quds News Network. 23 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  20. ^ "After being suspended... Zinko show returns to air in an Indian movie". (Wattan News).[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ "Ghabash Program 2015 - Abdulrahman Thaher". thahers.com. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  22. ^ "Archive Program 2015 - Abdulrahman Thaher". thahers.com. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  23. ^ "Ghabash Program 2016 - Abdulrahman Thaher". thahers.com. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  24. ^ "Mute Short Films - Abdulrahman Thaher". thahers.com. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  25. ^ "Ghabash Program 2019 - Abdulrahman Thaher". thahers.com. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  26. ^ "Accordingly 2020 - Abdulrahman Thaher". thahers.com. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  27. ^ "Trick program - Abdulrahman Thaher". thahers.com. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  28. ^ Paradise Now at IMDb
  29. ^ a b "8 Awards for Palestine at the Arab Youth Festival". Ma'an News Agency. Archived from the original on 2024-12-24. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  30. ^ a b "Sarcasm and eloquence in a time of bitterness and waiting". Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
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