Mohammad Riad Hussain Ismat (Arabic: رياض عصمت) (11 July 1947 – 13 May 2020)[1] was a Syrian writer, critic and theatre director.

Ismat studied English literature at the Damascus University and graduated in 1968.

From 2013 to 2014, he was a Buffett Center Visiting Scholar at Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois.

[2] Ismat directed more than 15 theatrical productions, including interpretations of Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams and Frank Wedekind, as well as producing his own personal vision of The Arabian Nights.

Among his best known dramatic works are: Was Dinner Good, dear Sister; Mourning becomes Antigone; Sindbad; Shahryar's Nights; Abla & Antar; Mata Hari; The Banana Republic and In Search of Zenobia.