The UK has voted to leave the EU, sending markets, UK politics and leaders on the continent into a frenzy. PM David Cameron has announced his resignation and EU leaders are saying that the #Leave process must begin immediately, and that there’s no turning back now.
Social media went wild with news of the monumental decision, and the Arab world was no exception. Here are some of the funnier reactions from the region.
Some Arab Twitter users noted the irony of Europe splitting up before the Middle East, despite dissatisfaction with the current borders drawn after the Sykes-Picot agreement.
Who would have thought that the EU would get partitioned before Iraq, or Syria?
— Mohamad Bazzi (@BazziNYU) June 24, 2016
Others drew paradoxical parallels to Middle Eastern news, speculating that refugees will now flee the UK for Ireland across the sea.
"Thousands Of British Refugees Make Dangerous Journey Across The Irish Sea" https://t.co/yCcVvQ3uFf #Brexit
— Jenan Moussa (@jenanmoussa) June 24, 2016
Perhaps the funniest of all reactions, the hashtag “#AssadCurse” began trending on Twitter following the Brexit results. Here, tweeters noted that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has now officially outlasted Cameron, despite calls from the UK prime minister for Assad to step down.
With Cameron now resigned we can be sure that the #Assadcurse is real. #brexit #Syria
— Partisangirl (@Partisangirl) June 24, 2016
Will he outlast Obama too?
Some even speculated that the decision to leave was due to US/UK Syria policy, but were in turn made fun of by some Syria observers.
Obama neglected Syria, allowed the crisis to spill over, driving migrants to Europe, pushing #Brexit over the edge.
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) June 24, 2016
Assad is officially the most powerful man in the world..... pic.twitter.com/UplY08dhjx
— Leith Abou Fadel (@leithfadel) June 24, 2016
Finally, in Lebanon, a few memes circulated reading “Can we as Lebanese vote to leave the Middle East?” With calls for referendums now being heard in the Netherlands, is it so crazy to think they Lebanese may get a vote on leaving their continent too?
Adam Lucente
