The SNRT in court because of a controversy linked to the series Fath Al Andalus

The Kuwaiti-Syrian series Fath Al Andalus broadcast on Al Oula during the month of Ramadan has created a stir even in politics and in the courts. At the heart of this controversy, an “erroneous” image of a symbol of Moroccan history. A first hearing has been postponed to next Wednesday.

Initially criticized by Internet users, the series continued to anger Moroccans, even going so far as to be the subject of questions at the level of Parliament and a complaint before the court of first instance in Rabat.

The series produced by Syrians and Kuwaitis retraces the conquest of Al Andalus (fath al andalous), in particular by showing on screen Tariq Ibn Ziyad, the military strategist and Umayyad governor of Berber origin.

Moroccans did not appreciate that the series was produced in the East when it deals with a national history. They believe that it contains false information and insults to Morocco and the character of Tariq Ibn Ziyad presented as a slave when he was a leader and military commander with soldiers under his command and was at the origin of the conquest of Al Andalus.

Several voices have risen to call for the suspension of the series from the Al Oula programming schedule. Sources within the first national channel insisted that Al Oula was not responsible for the production.

In addition, they recall that it is a fiction inspired by historical events and that it is not a documentary work.

But this did not seem to convince or calm the critics of the series who denounce the dissemination of erroneous information and messages to the Moroccan public, believing that they could promote these false ideas to viewers.

The Amazigh activist Rachid Bouhaddouz went so far as to file a complaint against the first national channel with the court of first instance in Rabat, so that it deprograms this series, considering that the content goes against the history of Morocco.

And while the first court hearing was to be held on Wednesday, it was postponed to next week at the request of the television channel, which expressed its need for time to present documents and prepare its defense case.

For the activist, this series includes several historical inaccuracies that could influence Moroccan viewers, and give them a false image of their history, their identity and the geography of their country.

He further believes that it undermines the territorial integrity of Morocco, as it gives legitimacy to the Spanish occupation of the city of Sebta in history, when it was founded and ruled by Moroccans. On this point, Bouhaddouz indicates that the series distorts reality in particular through the identity and the ethnic affiliation of the governor and the inhabitants of the city who are presented as Spaniards.

The National Broadcasting Company was surprised by such a complaint and wondered whether the complainants were not trying to create buzz, or want to impose a guardianship on creativity.

For critics of the series, especially on the side of political parties, the chain would have a responsibility in the choice of its programs, especially as it discusses events related to Morocco.

USFP parliamentarians recalled that the channel bought this series with Moroccan public funds when it was not shot in Morocco, did not know of the participation of Moroccans in writing the script , denounce that there is only one Moroccan actor in the group, worse, Moroccan historians were not consulted to verify their data.