By Muhammed Yusuf

ISTANBUL

In Turkey, between the history-rich southeastern city of Mardin and Istanbul, a television series presenting the life of Muslim scholar Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal is set to be filmed.

The series is a joint project between the Qatari al-Burak production company and the D&B Turkish company.

It presents the life of the fourth Imam of Sunni Muslims and is expected to air in mid-2016.

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal lived in Baghdad between 780 and 855. He founded the Hanbali school of Sunni jurisprudence.

Mohamed al-Enezi, the show’s lead writer, said the series will explore the theme of coexistence and will show that Baghdad was a model of acceptance between different sects and denominations under the umbrella of true Islam.

The significance of the work comes amid a boiling Middle East region with a number of countries in turmoil as a result of extremism and sectarian conflict.

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