Manama: Four Tunisian lawyers have requested the local religious authorities to ban the broadcasting of Iranian television series that visually depicts prophets and religious icons.
Two Tunisian private television stations, Nesma TV and Hannibal TV, have been running promos about Ramadan dramas based on the lives of Prophet Yousuf, Mariam and Prophet Eisa.
Directed by Farajollah Salahshur, Prophet Yousuf depicts him from childhood to adulthood.
The episodes were produced by Sima Film Productions, an affiliate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and were aired on IRIB Channel One in 2008 and 2009, Iran media reported. The Iran-produced dramas are dubbed in Arabic.
However, the lawyers said that Islam bans the visual depiction of prophets, their wives and children as well as the companions of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
"This is a dangerous violation and an attack on a pillar of faith," the lawyers said. "Shiites allow the depiction of prophets, but Sunnis totally reject it," they said.
