A poll conducted by the “ET in Arabic” program showed that the Algerian series “Al-Dama”, which was shown in Ramadan 2023, had the highest viewership.
Despite the vote, the series “Al-Dama” sparked widespread controversy when it was shown, because of its “insult to the values and customs of Algerians,” according to its critics.
Al-Dama was accused of adopting “violent and vulgar” language, while supporters believe that the Algerian series was “part of reality.”
The struggle of ideologies and drugs
And “Dama” symbolizes a popular game, in which players use small pieces of stones that are moved on the ground within a planned circle in which the area of moving each competitor is determined.
The series shed light on the details of the daily popular life of the Algerians, the struggle of ideologies between them for the sake of earning, and the drug trade and its promotion in schools, while the events were taking place in the Bab El Oued neighborhood, one of the most popular neighborhoods in the capital.
defense and response
The director of “Al-Dama”, Yahya Muzahim, strongly defended the series, as he stressed that viewers have the right to discuss the work and raise controversy about it, in previous statements to Al-Sharq channel.
And he considered that the drama is basically “not for preaching”, but rather presenting art only, pointing out that the series discusses issues that society lives normally, stressing that it “does not promote anything that offends Algerians.”
Muzahem also explained that the language used in the work is the “everyday language”, which is spoken in the popular neighborhoods.
However, the Algerian Minister of Communication (Minister of Information), Mohamed Bouslimani, responded to the demands of followers of the need to set controls for dramas.
He said that a statement was issued to the television sector to control what is being presented, and to respect the privacy of the month of Ramadan.
He revealed the formation of a committee to follow up on what is shown during Ramadan, with the aim of “controlling audio and visual content,” according to his statements.
