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The Cultural Frontline: Saudi TV Drama on Life Under So-Called Islamic State

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Saudi TV drama on life under the so called Islamic State

24/06/2017 GMT

Saudi TV Drama on Life Under So-Called Islamic State

BBC World Service - The Cultural Frontline, Saudi TV Drama on Life Under So-Called Islamic State

During Ramadan, the Saudi TV conglomerate, MBC, has been showing the first ever TV drama to depict life under the so called Islamic state in Syria.  Called `Gharabeeb Saoud`, or `Black Crows`, it is based on real life stories of women who join Jihadis in their city stronghold of Raqqa and is an attempt to counter extremist media propaganda. The show has scored highly in MBC’s ratings for the Ramadan season, but it has been controversial. We discuss the ambitions of `Black Crows` with MBC spokesperson Mazen Hayek, and Dr Massoumeh Torfeh, a specialist on anti-terrorist media strategy.   
 
As Iceland celebrates the long, light days of Midsummer, best-selling crime author and civil engineer, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir gives us a glimpse of green power in Iceland. 
 
To mark the United Nations World Refugee Day this week, we hear how Iranian rapper Farhood ended up in a British prison when he fled Iran and why he believes rap is vital for a generation of young Iranians.    
 
With Tina Daheley

(Photo: Female member of IS in the TV drama Black Crows. Credit: MBC Group)

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