Dr. Akif Tahiiev has published the article “THE LADY OF HEAVEN (UK 2011) and Representations of Early Shi‘i Islam in Films and TV Series.”

In the new special issue of the Journal for Religion, Film and Media titled Representations of Islam and Muslims in Film. From Stereotype to Scenescape, Dr. Akif Tahiiev has published the article “THE LADY OF HEAVEN (UK 2011) and Representations of Early Shi‘i Islam in Films and TV Series.”

His article explores how early Shi‘i Islamic history is portrayed in contemporary films and television series, examining the wide range of interpretative strategies and the varying degrees of historical accuracy. While such productions often aim to educate broad audiences about formative events in Islamic history, they also frequently face critique for insufficient historical fidelity or for overlooking the sensitivities of diverse Muslim communities.

The article analyses how key moments of early Shi‘i history are represented — by whom, for which audiences, and within which political, sectarian, and cultural frameworks these interpretations are produced and contested. Special attention is given to The Lady of Heaven(Eli King, UK 2011), a particularly illustrative case due to the intense controversy it generated. The film was banned not only across several Sunni-majority countries but also in the secular United Kingdom and in Shi‘i-majority Iran, highlighting its unique position within contemporary media debates.

Article available here.