A Turkish Play Ertugrul Ghazi in Pakistan

Wrapped in tribal conspiracies, bloodshed, carnage and religious rhetoric, Turkey's drama series is constantly engulfing Pakistan.

Filmed in Anatolia, "Ertugrul" is a legendary 150-episode account of Ertugrul Ghazi of the Ottoman Empire. After dubbing in Urdu, this series has taken root in the hearts of Pakistanis.

It is not to be expected that the ideas of millions of people in a remote country will be captured.

But Pakistan is different. The families of the family sit together and watch with great interest and understand that this is the true historical Islam.

Islamic history? What is this history like? In fact, it is a fictional story of thirteenth-century Anatolia, in which the interest of Pakistanis is growing. The writer and producer of the series, Mehta Bozdag, has admitted to the idea in this story.

Mehta Bozdag says there is very little information about the content we are presenting. No more than four to five pages.

There is no guarantee that even the available names will be correct. Writings about the founding of the Ottoman Empire were collected between one hundred and one hundred and fifty years later.

Nothing is certain in this historical figure. According to Mehta Bozdag, we are creating a story by dreaming.

The Turkish series has been masterfully crafted for a specific purpose in which the element of propaganda is evident. There is no doubt about it

There is a purpose behind the preparation. But what is that?

If in this series, while trying to reflect Islam, it has been proved that it is a religion of peace, then in practice, there is nothing so far in this series.

On the other hand, if one says that this series is an attempt to eliminate the effect of Islamophobia, then success will be the exact opposite.

For example, the first episode begins with bloodshed. Where swords are being drawn in the background of gypsy tents.

The opponents of the tribe are Christians and Byzantines whose bloody bodies are scattered here and after every battle. Hero Ertugrul Ghazi is seen beheading everyone. The hero also suspects the disloyalty of former comrades belonging to the tribe.

Was Ertugrul the only one left to interpret Islam?

The whole world saw such a culture of relentless beheading in Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's organization called ISIS. Can such a horrible trend be supported in this series?

 

Furthermore, can this bloodshed show the peaceful message of Islam to the world? Islam can be represented in more positive ways than shedding light on the struggle for power in tribal society.

For example, Turkish Kurdish scholars such as Ali Qashghi, Taqi al-Din or Al-Jazari may be a much better interpreter. Without the early scholars of Islam, the colorful printing of Muslim culture is nothing but an illusion.

This particular thinking has entangled a great global civilization like Islam in a weak and inconsistent way of thinking.

I doubt that Ertugrul's real purpose is less about Islam. It certainly seems to be paving the way for a long lost empire.

The production team requested large-scale financial support from the Turkish state, which was complied with. Horse farms developed.

In addition, a special zoo was built. The action-packed Hollywood stunt team was specially called.

Thus, these actors were given full training for action. Turkish President Erdogan and his family visited the film's shooting location several times.

Then what was possible happened.

The Arab world does not believe in Ertugrul.

The blockbuster received a strong response from within the Sunni strongholds of Islam. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia condemned and banned the series.

Egyptian authorities have issued a fatwa calling for the re-imposition of Turkish rule. There are also reports that Saudi Arabia is trying to break it.

The trailer of the Saudi series has also been prepared. This proves that the Arabs are not in the mood to accept this "Turkish monopoly".

Most people do not like the attackers, but Pakistan's psyche is somehow isolated.

Perhaps overwhelmed by Erdogan's aggression, Prime Minister Khan proudly tweeted that the Turks had ruled India for 600 years.

That's only between half a quarter and half a truth. But it is clear to the Prime Minister that he welcomes the monarchy on his soil.

Khan is not alone. A large number of Pakistanis have celebrated all the attacks since the eighth century. The Arabs are the source of India's victory. Like our Naseem Hijazi, filmmaker Mehmet Buzdag is also creating realistic imagery.

How should one view ancient invasions and imperial conquests? It is just as irrational to praise or disrespect them.

India is a strikingly clear example of how degrading society can be if it does.

The work of Hindu revival has fallen on the evil foreign invader who shattered the paradise of Mother India. Suddenly all Muslims and Christians became angry.

As recently announced by Narendra Modi's right-hand man, there are foreign termites attacking a poor man's grain store.

 

Don't the foolish ideas of Hindutva know that all human civilization originated in Africa? There is no such thing as a "son of Indian soil."

Doesn't everyone know that the world?

Is every society the result of countless conflicts, wars and foreign invasions for thousands of years? Even DNA tests cannot tell the difference between Hindus and Muslims.

These basic lessons are for everyone. But unfortunately the rulers of Pakistan are far from these facts.

One of the strongest attitudes towards ancient foreign invasions should be to accept them as historical facts.

They should be investigated without any glorification or condemnation. No one can suffer the consequences of the deeds of his ancestors.

Moreover, the small things of the time have always obscured the facts from theory.

The creators of Ertugrul want us to sink into the past of others and celebrate imperialism.

We are deliberately confusing everything. This poisonous substance can only reinforce the dangerous illusion that moving forward actually means going backwards.

Instead of all this nonsense, the way forward is for Pakistanis to ask Pakistanis about the path to spring. We have a unique culture, a history. There is much to be gained from this diversity.

Everyone saw what happened in 1971. The eradication of Saudi culture failed to create a viable Pakistani identity. Accepting Turkey will not get us anything more.

Instead, a strong national identity can emerge only when Pakistanies is accepted. For example, it should be acknowledged that Punjab is just a Pakistani province and all citizens have rights on the basis of equality and justice. However, nothing seems to be changing at the moment.