After Film Director's Death in Suicide Blast, Arab Media Get Tough on Islamic Extremism
New America Media, News Analysis, Jalal Ghazi, Posted: Dec 06, 2005
Editor's Note: A suicide bomb attack that killed a beloved director in the Arab world has struck a nerve among Arab commentators, making them more vocal and daring than ever in condemning terrorism.
SAN FRANCISCO--One month after the deadly suicide bombing attacks in Amman, Jordan, Arab media continue to mourn the loss of Moustapha Akkad, a beloved director in the Arab world who was killed in the blast. His death and that of his daughter may mark the first time a unanimous outpouring of grief and condemnation over a suicide bomb attack has spread across the spectrum of Arab media.
The Syrian-born Akkad is known in America for producing the first "Halloween" film, released in 1978. He also produced the eight subsequent "Halloween" films.
In the Arab and Muslim worlds, however, Akkad is known as the man who directed "Al Risalah," or "The Message," a film about early Islamic history that was released in both Arabic and English versions. It known as the most widely viewed films about Islam and is considered the cinematic pride of the Muslim world. "Al Risalah" has been translated to more than 12 languages.
The film is banned in Syria, Akkad's native country, and Saudi Arabia, whose leaders declared it violated strict Islamic codes. The Pentagon reportedly has bought many copies of "Al Risalah" to show to its troops in Afghanistan to help them better understand Islam.
Akkad also directed "Lion of the Desert," released in 1981 and an instant hit in the Arab and Muslim world. It depicted real events about the Libyan struggle for freedom against Mussolini's army in World War II, which killed one-third of the Libyan population.
Akkad, who lived in Los Angeles, traveled in November to Jordan to meet his daughter and attend a wedding party at the Radisson hotel in Amman. On Nov. 9, an explosion in the hotel killed Akkad's daughter Rima instantly. Akkad sustained injuries in his neck and chest and died in the hospitable two days later. A total of 63 people, including three suicide bombers, were killed in the blast.
Akkad's tragic death generated a wave of blunt condemnation of suicide bombings. A commentator in the London-based Asharq Al Awsat, Husein Shabekshe, wrote, "Akkad's great loss did not stop the wicked terrorists from claiming that the operation was in the name of Islam. It is time for Muslim scholars to take a clear stand against these (extremist) books and religious decrees and recognize that they are wrong and should not be followed."
Anwar Bader, a commentator in pan-Arab Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper, wrote that Akkad was killed by religious extremism and blind terrorism, and quoted the director, who, in reference to suicide bombers attacking civilians in Iraq, stated, "Today, a new and dangerous wave of extremism started to appear in Iraq all of a sudden. Extremism is the manifestation of ignorance, not only religions' ignorance, but ignorance in general which weakens human beings."
The famous Syrian actor Dored Laham told Abu Dhabi Television, "Those who killed Akkad are not Muslims even if they say they are Muslims, and even if they pray in Mosques and fast during Ramadan."
Thoria Al Shahri, a regular commentator in Asharq Al Awsat, wrote that Akkad "died at the hands of foolish animals with evilness and an appetite for killing in the name of religion ... Akkad gave Islam two films that will live long after the hopeless and brainless videos of Al Zarqawi and his losers."
But Al Shahri then criticized Arab leaders who rejected Akkad when he approached them for funding future films. "While the West is busy producing creative films, Arabs seem to be satisfied with the disgusting videos of Al Zarqawi," Al Shahri wrote.
Al Shahri said Arabs and Muslims have no one to blame but themselves for the negative images of Islam in the West. "I'm sad to say that 'The Passion of Christ' and 'Fahrenheit 9/11' have proven that American cinema is not walled off by the Zionists like many Arabs have been claiming. Anyone who has a film idea and a budget is welcome."
Firas Al-Atraqchi, a contributor to Al Jazeera, wrote on the Al Jazeera Web site that Akkad died before being able to achieve his dream of making a film about the Muslim hero Salahdden. Akkad, Al-Atraqchi wrote, thought that the invasion of Iraq was analogous to the political climate in the 11th century before Jerusalem was sacked. Akkad, Al-Atraqchi wrote, thought that the current geopolitical chessboard reminded him of "all the Muslim city-states which colluded with Crusaders and allowed not only the fall of Jerusalem, but also led to Muslim infighting."
Frustrated with the unwillingness of rich Arab leaders to fund his films, Akkad said that it would take only as much as the cost of a warplane to make a film, which would have much more far-reaching effects than the strongest Arab army. Akkad always used to say that the best tool that Arabs and Muslims could use to influence the West was the Western media, not weapons.
Arabs and Muslims have huge admiration for Akkad, not only because he was able to establish himself as a successful international filmmaker, but also because he was able to do that without compromising his love to Islam and pride in his Arabic heritage. As with his past works, his film on Salahdden no doubt would have been a magnificent third epic, a window into the 1,400 years of Arab and Islamic civilization and a clear contrast to today's dark ages of extremism and suicide bombings.
Jalal Ghazi monitors and translates Arab media for New America Media (a project of PNS) and Link TV.
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