Through catchy songs and dramatic farce, Syria has taken to lampooning the man leading a UN probe into the murder of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.
Detlev Mehlis, a German prosecutor and recent figure of Syrian fun, has implicated a number of regime officials in the February murder, but on top of the official denials, popular culture has also started saying a loud "no."
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PHOTO: EPA
Many in Damascus will tell you that Mehlis, who on Friday reached a deal over a Vienna venue to question Syrian officials, is a pawn, part of a plot by Syria's adversaries, masterminded by the US.
In an interim report published last month, Mehlis questioned Damascus's willingness to cooperate with the probe, with an ensuing UN resolution calling for Syria to answer questions or face the threat of sanctions.
Syrian pop singer Ali Diq sings a song with the lyrics: "Your report, Mehlis, is worth two cents. It's politicized, Mehlis. The objective is an exodus, murder and prison, Mehlis."
"You come demanding witnesses, Mehlis, and you bring gunpowder and war, Mehlis," continues the number, which also tells Lebanese that "The situation is exhausting, but the flood will invade us all."
Damascus believes the Hariri killing and ensuing probe are part of a witch-hunt against Syria, part of Washington's alleged agenda of dominating the Middle East.
"Pressure isn't brought to bear in order to reach the truth on the assassination of Rafiq Hariri. It targets Syria because of its hostile position to the colonialist-Zionist plan in the Middle East," official newspapers repeat almost daily.
A play has been showing in Damascus, entitled Stand up, sit down, silence which claims to support the government during its crisis.
The play takes an ironic look at the omnipresence of security services in Syria via a nominal "Arab" who constantly has his rights violated.
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But it also takes a jab at Mehlis and talks about relations between Syria and Lebanon that have sharply deteriorated since the withdrawal of Syrian troops from its smaller neighbor in April after an almost 30-year presence.
"If you want to smoke a cigarette and you can find a light then burn your country. Signed, Detlev Mehlis," says another character.
"His report was dictated a year before the tragedy" of Hariri's killing, the character continues.
As the Dec. 15 deadline for Mehlis to give his follow-up report to the UN approaches, demonstrations of solidarity with Syria have become a daily event.
"The UN vice-consul in Lebanon is Mehlis," reads one of the banners carried by youths camped outside the US embassy. Other banners show US President George W. Bush holding a Mehlis lookalike puppet.
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