JAKARTA - Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged Saudi Arabia's MBC Group not to broadcast a TV series depicting the life of the founder of the Umayyah Dynasty, Khalifah Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan, which is scheduled to air during Ramadan.
Muawiyah is rumored to be the most expensive Arab TV drama series in history with a production cost of around 75 million US dollars or around Rp. 158,750,000,000.
"Distributing such a series contradicts the new and moderate policies pursued by Saudi Arabian brothers," wrote Al Sadr, quoted by The National News March 13.
"There is no need to hurt the feelings of your Muslim brothers in the eastern and western hemispheres," he continued.
MBC Group is the largest broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa. The show marked the TV director's debut from Palestinian-Egyptian director Tariq al-Arian. Meanwhile, the scenario was written by journalist Khaled Salah.
Production of the series began in July in the city of Hammamet Tunisia with another scene filmed by Kairouan, also in Tunisia.
Muawiyah's character was played by Syrian actor Loujain Ismail, after veteran Palestinian actor Ali Suleiman withdrew from the role.
Rows of other well-known stars involved in this project, such as Asma Jalal, Aisha bin Ahmed and Jamila Chihi, played Muawiyah's wife. Jordanian actor Iyad Nassar plays Imam Ali bin Abi Talib.
Umayyah's caliphate rules most of the region now the Middle East from 660 to 750 and is ruled under Muawiyah's first caliph. His son, Yazid bin Muawiyah, ruled as the second caliph of Umayyah.
Prophet Muhammad SAW's grandson, Imam Hussein, protested his caliphate. Shiites mark Ashura every year for mourning the death of Imam Hussein bin Ali, who was killed in fighting outside Karbala in 680 AD by Yazid bin Muawiyah soldiers.
Although MBC has not publicly responded to Mr Sadr's statement, MBC Media Solutions (MMS), a commercial branch of the MBC Group, announced the ranks of events during Ramadan 2023.
"We all know now the impact and reach of Ramadan. We are proud of our role as MMS in allowing brands to be part of this special year-on-year story and narrative," said MMS Chief Executive Ahmed Al Sahhaf in Riyadh.
Events focused on early Islamic figures after the era of the first four caliphs and the Umayyah Dynasty, have aired previously.
Directed by the late Syrian filmmaker who affected Hatem Ali, MBC broadcast Saqr Quraish in 2002, tracing the ups and downs of the 7th and 8th centuries Umayya dynasties. In 2012, MBC produced and broadcast pan-Arab production of Farouk Omar based on Umar's life ibn Al Khattab, the second caliph.
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