This Syrian actor will join forces with Kevin Spacey in upcoming Hollywood film

Ghassan Massoud will take part in Ridley Scott’s new film ‘All the Money in the World’
Ghassan Massoud, Syria
Ghassan Massoud Source: IMDb

Ghassan Massoud, the Syrian actor who played Muslim military general  Salah Eldin in Kingdom of Heaven, has made quite a name for himself in Hollywood. 

He's now returning for another film alongside British director and producer Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner (1982,) Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and The Martian).

Ghassan Massoud, Kingdom of Heaven
Ghassan Massoud in Kingdom of Heaven Source: Alchetron

Their latest project, All the Money in the World, will see top Hollywood actors Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, and Kevin Spacey join forces. 

The crime drama tells the story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt of his devoted mother, Gail, to bring him back.

The film - based on John Pearson's novel Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty - is set to be released this December. 

Ghassan Massoud, All the Money in the World
Massoud in All the Money in the World Source: Youtube

Massoud was born on September 20, 1958 in Damascus, Syria. He graduated from and taught at the High Institution of Theatrical Arts for ten years. 

He is known back home for his many appearances in Syrian films, writing and directing the theater play Diplomasiyyoun (Diplomats,) as well as being part of the Syrian Ministry of Culture's National Theater's 2002 season. 

He appeared in the Egyptian film El Waad (The Promise, 2008) alongside Egyptian actors Asser Yassin and Ruby.

He also played the "Sheikh" in famous Turkish film Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak (Valley of the Wolves Iraq, 2006) and appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End in 2007.

Here's the trailer of All the Money in the World:

Saudi husband arrested for beating his pregnant wife with walking stick

"He abused my daughter numerous times.”

An abusive Saudi husband who beat his pregnant wife with a walking stick was arrested by authorities in the kingdom's Assir governorate earlier this week, Al Hayat newspaper reported

The husband, who works as a teacher, had previously abused his wife on numerous occasions; throwing sharp knives at her, beating her with metal bars, and even breaking her nose. 

However, she always refrained from filing a complaint against him. 

Speaking to Al Hayat, the woman's father said the family finally decided to take legal action against the abusive man because his actions were no longer tolerable. 

"He abused my daughter numerous times. Last Ramadan, he threw a sharp knife at her, severely wounding her hand. When we asked him why he did that, he said it was a joke," the victim's father explained. 

The wife, who was hospitalized after the latest incident, also spoke to the newspaper, calling on authorities to grant her custody of the couple's children because she's worried about their safety.

According to legal sources, the man has now been released on bail but will face charges for his actions. 

The case is making the rounds online

News of the case started making the rounds online late on Wednesday. 

Since then, hundreds have taken to Twitter, expressing their outrage over the abusive husband's actions. 

"I hope he's jailed for 15 years"

Many raised this point

"Women must know they shouldn't remain silent in the face of abuse... unfortunately many believe it's their duty not to speak out about it." 

"Sometimes, familial pressure forces women to relent to such abuse"

"This isn't an isolated case"

"Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated case. The majority of women choose to remain silent, because they worry about their children and where they'd live  in case of a divorce." 

Domestic abuse on the rise across the Arab world

"...too many men in the region continue to uphold norms that perpetuate violence against women..."

In recent years, reported domestic abuse cases have been on the rise in countries across the Arab world. 

It's estimated that thousands of domestic violence cases go unreported because more often than not, abused women are pressured into staying silent or live in societies where gender-based violence has been normalized

A recent study revealed that men in four Arab countries including Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and the Palestinian territories committed acts of domestic violence and sexual harassment against women.

According to the report, "too many men in the region continue to uphold norms that perpetuate violence against women or confine women to conventional roles, and they act on these attitudes in ways that cause harm to women, children, and themselves." 

Around 10 to 45 percent of ever-married men (men who are married or who have been married) reported physical violence against a female partner, and between 20 to 80 percent of men admitted to emotional violence against their wives.

Circumstances that often lead to domestic violence against women aren't confined to these four countries, but also apply to so many others including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain