Iran Bans Egyptian TV Series Over Alleged Historical Distortions

Iranian authorities have banned an Egyptian television series called "The Assassins" or "El-Hashashin" in Arabic, citing alleged distortions of Islamic history and a biased portrayal of the 11th-century Shiite Muslim sect known as the Nizari Ismailis. The head of Tehran's audiovisual media regulatory body stated that the series, which depicts the story of the sect's founder Hassan-i Sabbah, includes "many inaccuracies" and "a prejudiced political perspective" in its narrative.

According to Iranian officials, the series shows "a distorted representation of Iranians" and attempts to associate them with the "origins of terrorism." Experts have also criticized "The Assassins" as a "alteration and misrepresentation of reality." The remains of Alamut castle, where Sabbah's group resided, is a popular tourist attraction in northern Iran.

Why this matters: The banning of the Egyptian series highlights ongoing tensions and sensitivities surrounding the portrayal of Islamic history and minority sects in the media. It also emphasizes the difficulties of representing complex historical figures and events in a manner that is considered precise and impartial by all parties involved.

In a statement, the head of Tehran's audiovisual media regulatory body stressed that the series "includes many inaccuracies and has a prejudiced political perspective on the historical narrative of Imam Hassan Sabah." The official further added that "this series misrepresents the truth about the history of Islam and attempts to associate Iranians with the origins of terrorism in an inaccurate manner."

Key Takeaways

• Iran bans Egyptian TV series "The Assassins" for distorting Islamic history.
• Series depicts story of Nizari Ismaili sect founder Hassan-i Sabbah, deemed inaccurate.
• Iran claims series shows "distorted representation of Iranians" and "origins of terrorism".
• Experts criticize the series as "alteration and misrepresentation of reality".
• Banning highlights tensions over portrayal of Islamic history and minority sects in media.