Every Ramadan, one or two shows – out of the hundred or so that debut – stand out from the pack. The more controversy surrounding a show, the more attention it receives – and in the case of MBC's Gharabeeb Soud (Black Crows), controversy is inevitable, considering the sensitive subject matter it tackles.
The series explores the role of women and children within the ISIL terrorist organisation, in the process addressing the mechanics of terrorism and challenging extremism.
It presents a dramatic depiction of the types of horror stories told by those who have lived in ISIL territories: an army of children, women kidnapped and forced to become sex slaves, brainwashed suicide squads of youngsters and hypocritical leaders using their followers to further their own interests.
The series has been well received, generally, despite facing criticism on social media for supposedly tarnishing the image of Islam. This prompted MBC studios to ramp up security at its offices in Dubai and abroad after receiving death threats from ISIL.
“Our message with this show is not just for the Arab world, but the entire world,” says actor Dima Al Jundi, who plays Al Khansa’a, a cruel morality enforcer and battalion leader.
“Our message [is] Daesh is a non-ethical, non-humane organisation that has nothing to do with religion in any way. The goal of a series like this is to raise awareness.”
This is a dauntingly tall order – and one that came at a price – but Al Jundi says she didn’t think twice about accepting the role.
“Daesh is in control right now in my country, Syria, and I felt like it was my responsibility to reveal this terrorist group’s inhumane, barbaric acts,” says Al Jundi.
However, embracing the role proved extremely difficult for the actor.
“To prepare for this role was almost mission impossible,” she says. “My character is based on an actual Tunisian woman, who was married to one of Daesh’s leaders in Iraq, and when they invaded Syria, she moved there with her husband and was made leader of Al Amr Bil Ma’rouf Wal Nahi ‘An Al Munkar [enforcing morality].
“I’ve never had a role this complex and hard and utterly evil. I had to gather all the evil within me to pump into this role.”
Syrian actor Mohammed Al Ahmad, who plays Abu Talha, the leader and emir (or prince) of the terrorist organisation, found it equally challenging to immerse himself in a character he describes as a “pivotal, ambitious, bloodthirsty monster”.
“To be honest, this role exhausted me,” says Al Ahmad.
“There was significant hard work to create this character. I relied on every moment of pain, every wound that occurred in this region, every act of hate and rape and murder – that was the inspiration to prepare for this role.
“I didn’t want to repeat something that was done dramatically or copy anyone, I wanted to create a completely new personality based on all this pain.”
Al Jundi says only through art can we fully convey the depth of human suffering
“If you open YouTube, you’ll find videos of murder or suicide bombings,” she says.
“But the details of their daily life, how they recruit kids, how they abuse women – this you wouldn’t know. This, we had to delve into so our audience will know what we are up against.”
Parents, she says, need to be especially aware of the possible repercussions of not monitoring their children’s internet use, because young people are being recruited online.
“People need to know: this is the reality of Daesh, and there is still so much worse than what people see on TV,” she says. “On TV, we cannot directly and openly present things that the viewer’s eye nor mind cannot accept.
“Right now, we are just presenting 20 to 30 per cent of Daesh’s horror, and we know many are not able to watch the show because they say they can’t stand the bloodshed and horrors on screen.”
Saudi actor Yaqoob Farhan plays Sultan, a hot-headed Saudi youth who recklessly decides to join ISIL.
“Sultan speaks volumes about the numbers of young, rash and impetuous Saudis who have been seduced by Daesh and were eager to join without any kind of real knowledge of the organisation,” he says.
“It appears like a rose-tinted dream for a young boy who wants to prove himself and give himself purpose.
“[ISIL] target these youths, telling them all their dreams will come true here, everything you want is here. Sultan is like that and we will see the shock he will have to live through when he realises the horror he is living.”
Farhan describes shooting an early scene, which appeared in the first episode, in which Sultan witnesses a mass, live burial.
“This is something that has truly happened, and the entire time I’m aware of that,” he says.
“I’m imagining how these young boys must have felt as they buried people alive. Nothing can prepare you for this, as much as you try.”
Sultan, he says, is based on the experiences of real young men.
“The biggest percentage of suicidal soldiers come from similar backgrounds, have similar personalities and are in the same age bracket as Sultan,” he adds.
“They do not understand that they are weapons of war. They are victims. Naive victims.”
Al Ahmad hopes Black Crows will help to strip away some of the misguided allure such terrorist organisations can foster.
“I personally hope that this series will clearly show viewers the difference between right and wrong, between the correct Islamic religion and the teachings of [the Prophet] Mohammed, peace be upon him, and the teaching of the Quran, and between Daesh and what they claim to be religion, and how they use religion for their military goals and their sexual goals and their earthly goals,” he says.
“This work is targeted towards those who don’t have a lot of information on Daesh, who are not aware of this plague that has affected the region.”
• Gharabeeb Soud is broadcast daily on MBC and Abu Dhabi TV at midnight. Previous episodes can be viewed on Shahid.net
artslife@thenational.ae
