Anasy Media, a UAE-based production company, has completed post-production on its first international feature documentary 'The Tainted Veil', co-directed by US director Ovidio Salazar, Emirati director Nahla Alfahad and Syrian director Mazen AlKhayrat.

The documentary is an attempt at highlighting the historical context of women from various religions and societies around the world covering their hair over the centuries, and aims to soften the current negative discord surrounding the timely debates on the issue of the Muslim veil, said a statement.

Shot in nine countries by Ovidio in 2008, it was on hold until completed in this year by Mazen and Nahla.

It features interviews with a varied selection of Muslims from Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region who discuss their reasons for choosing to wear or not wear the veil as well as commentary from leading Muslim and non-Muslim specialists on Islamic culture and history.


Anasy Media was founded eight years ago and it has since grown to produce a number of documentaries. The company also founded the Anasy Documentary Awards in Abu Dhabi to help promote the media format.


Sheikha Al Yazia Al Nahyan, executive producer, said: "The head covering is a re-occurring topic in most places, it is a social issue in much need of perspective, even in the eastern societies where the hijab is practiced either correctly or not, there is a lack of debate regarding the ways and reasons behind the veil.

“’The Tainted Veil' presents discussions surrounding the hijab for those searching for a better understanding about themselves and others and an acceptance of a woman's choice; to wear it or not."

Alfahad is currently one of the UAE's most recognised female directors with a long list of television commercials, popular music videos and corporate documentaries under her belt, said the statement.

‘The Tainted Veil’ is her first attempt at branching out into international content with the goal of screening the documentary around the worldm it said.

"I think we all need to calm down a little about this small piece of cloth, there are so many mis-conceptions and stereotypes attached to the veil so it was important to give access to real people and their opinions on wearing the veil,” she noted.

"The unknown is what raises our interest and obscurity is behind agitation and troubles, it becomes a fear of what is different. The Tainted Veil is a discussion of knowledge of a certain topic, without adopting the cause itself, roaming through the interconnected ideas in history, religion and people to reveal a truth and the facts,” said AlKhayrat.

Salazar is a veteran documentary filmmaker from California, known for his work on documentaries including ‘Journey to Mecca’ starring Sir Ben Kingsley as the narrator and Al Ghazali The Alchemist of Happiness.

The production will screen the documentary at a private screening to VIPs, members of the press and industry on June 15 at the Everyman Cinema, Hampstead in the UK. - TradeArabia News Service