Pakistani men are finding it hard to separate the real from the reel in Diriliş: Ertuğrul

By Nisma Chauhan

When Prime Minister Imran Khan recommended Pakistanis to watch a Turkish drama during his speech in October last year, little did he know that this drama would go on to become a contestable topic.

It was Turkish television series Dirilis: Ertugrul that Khan sahib did not only want his people to watch but also wanted all four seasons to be dubbed in Urdu and aired on PTV. In about six months, an MoU between Turkey and Pakistan was signed, PTV dubbed the first season of the adventure series and is currently airing the show.

And so now in the middle of a global pandemic, Pakistanis sit in front of their TV sets and watch Muslim Oghuz Turks of the 12^th century fight invading Mongols, Christian Byzantines and the Knights Templar Crusaders in Anatolia.

They watch, while Khan sahib hopes for them to learn a thing or two about Islamic history from a fictional show as well as hope for better relations between the two Muslim countries. And seems like some Pakistani men have taken it upon themselves to ensure that these relations are indeed strengthened, by making sure that a Turkish woman – they have no relations to – is adhering to the ethics of a pious Muslim woman.

Within weeks of Ertugrul being aired on the state-run channel and gaining popularity, Pakistani men looked up the female lead of the show, Turkish actor Esra Bilgiç, on Instagram and were horrified to find out that she does not dress like a fictional character she plays on TV. A modestly dressed woman and the wife of a Muslim warrior – Halime Hatun.

Not being able to fathom why Bilgic would not behave like Halime in real life, Pakistani men thought it was their duty to berate the actor – if they are nice, advise her – and school her on being a good Muslim. Just like they have previously done, a countless number of times, to their own local female actors who dare to show even slightest of skin or behave in a manner not in line with their religious ideologies.

So, they comment and comment, hoping Bilgic changes her ways (while we hope she never reads those comments) and fall into the box they have made for her – the chaardeewari of their minds and not that of the 12^th century.

While the male lead of the show was also warned against keeping dogs as pets by a Pakistani fan as it is not in line with Islamic traditions, the commentator on his profile wasn’t as angered as that of Bilgic’s.

Bilgics after all, is a woman. Let me rephrase it. A Muslim woman and it is in the interest of Pakistani Muslim men – whether they are behind the keyboard or a parliament bench – that women of the religion are following the ethics of Islam. The very ethics that also tells them to lower their gaze, be kind and respectful.

It is quite hilarious that a bunch of men are scratching their heads looking at Bilgic’s Instagram profile and wondering why she isn’t the Halime they saw on their TV screens. But while they are at it, they are also making Pakistan look bad in front of a country its PM looks up to.

Khan sahib “is this the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?” you want to show.