JEDDAH, 21 November 2004 — Syrian director Mustafa Al-Akkad is set to film the historical epic “Salah Al-Din” starring Irish actor Sean Connery and Egyptian actor Hussien Fahmi.

Al-Akkad believes that a biography of Salah Al-Din should be screened in several high-quality movies rather than in one long epic.

There already exists more than one cinematic rendition of the story of Salah Al-Din, for example, the Egyptian Director Youssef Shahin’s Salah Al-Din the Victorious and the Egyptian Director Hossam El-Din Mustafa’s serial “The Falcon of the East”.

Al-Akkad pointed out that those works, although important, are in Arabic and address an audience with an Arab background.

He said: “The character of Salah Al-Din should be presented to the world through a big production that addresses the non-Arab viewers in a language they understand and interpreted by actors/actresses well-known to them.

“The movie would then achieve its expected effect because it would crystallize its message in a way the foreign audience can relate to” he said.

His main aim has been to shed light on the Arab historical heritage. “In the light of unjustified accusations of terrorism directed toward the Arab world, Salah Al-Din is — in my perspective — the most suitable character to present to the West as our mouthpiece. Is there a more barbaric example of religious terrorism than the medieval Crusades that Salah Al-Din confronted? However, nobody accuses Christianity of breeding terrorism.”

Al-Akkad asserts that the present Arab status quo very much resembles the Arab condition during the days of Salah Al-Din. “The Arabs back then,” he explains, “were few in number, disunited, and fighting among each other”.

“It was Salah Al-Din who united them, purified their regimes, and defeated the Crusaders. Through my movie I want to transmit the message that we are in need of such a man, or at least in need of following his strategies in order to face today’s challenges and overcome those waiting to ambush us.”

“My desire to make this movie,” he adds, “stems from a persisting problem, namely, Jerusalem. Historically, the movie will depict the city from an Arab and Muslim perspective. Salah Al-Din united the Arabs, conquered the usurped land, and acted as a protector for all religions, doing justice to both Muslims and Christians alike”.

The Crusaders, or the Franks, on the other hand, demolished churches, killed monks, set fire to Byzantium, and slaughtered Jerusalem’s Muslim, Christian, and Jewish inhabitants.

“I will present Salah Al-Din as the embodiment of magnanimity, nobility, and morality. The West is more aware of Salah Al-Din’s virtues than we Arabs are. The biography of Salah Al-Din is but the contemporary projection of today’s events. The Palestine of his day is the Palestine of today.” He “purged,” united, and morally conquered. I want to produce Salah Al-Din to emphasize the Arab character of Jerusalem. “The screenplay is ready, and its writer is John Heil, an American.”

He chose Irish Legend Sean Connery for the role of Salah Al-Din. “He is without a doubt the most qualified to interpret the role of Salah Al-Din. In addition to his skills as an actor his eastern features make him the perfect choice.

“Sean Connery’s name would also draw the desired audience. He likes the Arabs and is familiar with our history,” Al-Akkad said.

Egyptian actor Hussien Fahmi is to star with Sean Connery. He said that he agreed to play the role and they will start filming next year. Hussein Fahmi, ambassador of goodwill in the UN, said, “I have just came back from USA where I participated in a gathering organized by Kofi Annan and number of ambassadors of goodwill like Michael Douglas and the Brazilian socer star Ronaldo”.