BEIRUT // Syrian film, television, and theatre pioneer Rafiq Sebaie – best known to audiences as Abu Sayyah after one of his long-standing roles – has died at the age of 86.
Sebaie died of natural causes on Thursday. He had undergone a series of operations since breaking his hip in a fall at his home last year, Syrian state media said.
Often cast in tough-guy roles, Sebaie rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s, when Syrian cinema was considered among the best in the Arab world.
He enjoyed the appreciation of the late Syrian president Hafez Al Assad, father of Syria’s current president, who awarded him the title Actor of the People.
Sebaie repaid the sentiment as an outspoken supporter of the ruling family.
After Syria’s conflict broke out in 2011, Sebaie would appear on state TV criticising opposition fighters in what he said was a conspiracy against the country.
* Associated Press
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
More on Quran memorisation:
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
