The Assassins series

The TV series “The Assassins” (Egyptian production by Tamer Morsi - 30 episodes) sparked widespread interest and loud debate on social media platforms and through the media, between the pro- and anti-government factions of the Egyptian government. The series deals with the story of the "Assassin sect", which is Islamic, Shiite, and known as "Nizari". It was founded by Al-Hasan bin Al-Sabah (1037-1124 AD), who was born in the city of Qom in Persia (currently Iran). He took the Iranian “Alamut” castle, a towering, fortified and impregnable building, as the headquarters for ruling his state, and the sect sought to control other castles in many regions.

Hulagu and the destruction of Alamut Castle

For two centuries, the Assassins were famous for their great influence and military conflicts with the Seljuk, Abbasid, and Crusaders states, and for resorting to political assassinations by guerrillas, which terrified the rulers of the states of their era. Their state continued to be effective and influential, until the Mongol leader Hulagu overthrew it in 1256 AD, by storming Alamut Castle, destroying it, killing everyone under the age of ten, and taking women captive.

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What is criticized about the series is its lack of historical accuracy, its adoption of “colloquial Egyptian” as its dialect, as an alternative to classical Arabic, and its use of vocabulary and words that are new and common among young people these days, such as: “With the permission of love,” and the like, out of context of the events. The heated debate and clashes between the groups loyal to and opposing the Egyptian government are due to the series’ inclusion of a political message of similarity between the Assassins sect and the Muslim Brotherhood, with the intention of linking them in adopting terrorism as an approach.

Illusionary paradise!

“The Assassins” series, written by the novelist and screenwriter Abdel Rahim Kamal (born in 1971 - Sohag Governorate, southern Egypt)... who is skilled in writing works that convey the image of life in Upper Egypt society, such as Sheikh Al-Arab Hammam (2010), and others. However, success betrayed him, in He dealt with the Assassin sect, and the career of its leader, Hassan al-Sabah... He presented many stories that have nothing to do with history, selected from unreliable sources that do not have credibility, in support of his desired message. An “example” for these stories on which the structure of the series is based, and its basic idea: that the morning He created a “paradise” in his castle to which he invites his men to smoke hashish and enjoy this “delusional” paradise, in order to control them... Then he pushes them on deadly suicide missions, hoping to return to this promised paradise in which they lived for some time.

The Assassins and Marco Paolo

The story is contrary to logic. It contradicts the rugged nature of the citadel and the difficulty of life there. The President of Cairo University, Dr. Mohamed Othman Elkhosht, denied it in his research published in his book on the Assassin sect. The origin of this “fictional story” was reported by the Italian merchant Marco Paolo (1254-1324 AD), who was born two years before the fall of the Assassin state, claiming that he heard it when he visited Persia, and it is the reason for calling the sect the “Assassins.”

The sect still has followers in India and other places in the world, and they have a presence in Egypt, and they reject this name, as the correct name for it is Nizariyya, or Hadiya. The Nizari, or the Assassins (according to the Western name), are an “esoteric” sect that believes that “religious texts” have a hidden interpretation and meanings that differ from what their apparent appearance, known to the public, suggests. They are among the sects split from the Ismaili sect... named after Ismail ibn “Imam Jaafar al-Sadiq.” "(From the descendants of Al-Hussein bin Ali bin Abi Talib).

Amin Maalouf's novel

The series has been accused of quoting from the novel “Samarkand” by the French writer (of Lebanese origin) Amin Maalouf, which is not a realistic novel. In fact, Taya El-Deeb, a member of the Egyptian Writers Union, described the story of the series as being stolen from “Maalouf’s” novel or myth. Limit his description.

The makers of “The Assassins” contradict themselves. They were anticipating the criticism they would face, so they wrote on the series’ scripts that it was “inspired by history.” Well, if that is the case, then why hold on to characters from history and claim that the series tells their story? Their choice of the Egyptian colloquial language was not successful, although those responsible for the series defend this approach, saying that the colloquial language is closer to the audience, justifying that the story of Napoleon, for example, who is French, is presented in English in British or American works of art.

This statement is rejected, saying that this is normal, and that "colloquial" is a special Egyptian dialect, even if it is understood in Arabic, but what is more useful is to use "Classical Arabic", the language of all Arabs, in such historical works, which are supposed to be characterized by sobriety, no, The opposite. There is another reason that justifies resorting to colloquial language. Perhaps it is the scarcity of actors who are fluent in performing in classical Arabic.

 Egyptians and the drug hashish

Despite the strong promotional campaign for the series that preceded its release, and accompanied it, it would not have gained all this attention if it were not for the name (The Assassins), which played the biggest role in attracting the Egyptian audience (the target) to follow it. This is because the drug "hashish", which is extracted from the Indian hemp plant, is associated in the imagination and minds of "common Egyptians" with the fact that it separates its user from his world and his lived reality. The user is in a state of delusion of a life of bliss without losing consciousness...or so he thinks.

The time of Omar bin Al-Aziz and Harun Al-Rashid

The “Assassins Series” or other dramas that deal with facts, characters, or periods of history are not required to be a document or a book of history. It is permissible for the author to interfere with his imagination to present his dramatic vision, and to employ it politically to project reality... provided that he achieves accuracy, and does not violate what is historically established, or fabricate, falsify, or change the facts. A significant percentage of the audience derives its information from historical drama.

We can only have compassion for the time of Omar bin Abdul Aziz, Harun Al-Rashid, Abu Hanifa Al-Numan, and other historical, religious and social series, which contributed to shaping the awareness of generations of television audiences.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Al Jazeera.