In mid-2020, a mobile phone belonging to an Al Jazeera Arabic investigative team was hacked. Over the next few months, reporter Tamer Almisshal and the Canadian research group Citizen Lab investigated Pegasus, the sophisticated spyware used. Pegasus is manufactured by an Israeli technology company called the NSO Group and is among the most advanced spyware in the world. It can access and infiltrate a smartphone without the owner clicking a link, opening an email or even answering their phone - meaning it can go undetected. This investigation exposes how Pegasus works, how governments like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have bought the hugely expensive spyware and how it has been used beyond the stated intentions of the NSO Group of “developing technology to prevent and investigate terror and crime” - including to target journalists.
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The Miraculous Life of Prophet Muhammad
The documentary "The Miraculous Life of Prophet Muhammad" tells the life of the Prophet Muhammad with a focus on the miracles he performed. There are various interpretations and definitions of these miracles. What all scholars and Islamic scholars agree on is that the Holy Quran is the greatest miracle given to Prophet Muhammad.
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South American Ramadan in tropical Guyana
In South America, the Caribbean nation of Guyana is home to a small but thriving Muslim population, and Ramadan is as important to the faithful there as anywhere in the Islamic world. African slaves first introduced Islam to Guyana in the 17th century, but the majority of today's Muslims descend from indentured Indian labourers. Muslims contribute to all sections of Guyanese society. The country's first Muslim president, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, credits his election to Guyanese respect and tolerance. Shalimar Ali-Hack, the country's longest serving director of public prosecutions, believes Guyana may have a Muslim woman as president one day.
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Melodies of Ramadan: Four Spiritual Songs
The Arab Muslim world has a long tradition of songs and chants for the holy month of Ramadan. This film tells the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of four popular pieces. The song Ramadan Gana, or Here Comes Ramadan, is often played on TV to coincide with the start of Ramadan. Its simplicity, familiar lyrics and the singer’s warm voice make it hugely popular in the Arab world. Wahawi Ya Wahawi, or Welcome Ramadan Moon, was first performed by an Egyptian singer in the 1930s and later in a 1953 Egyptian movie by a five-year-old Lebanese girl, Hayam Younis, who still clearly remembers singing it. Decades on, she describes filming the song which became a timeless classic. Mawlay, or My Lord God, is a religious chant derived from a prayer. Former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat encouraged the Sufi figure Sayed Naqshband to work with the famous Egyptian composer, Baligh Hamdi, whose speciality was love songs. Despite early misgivings they found common ground, and the result was a deeply spiritual chant. Allou El Bayarek, or Hang Out Ramadan Flags, dates back to the Lebanese Civil War and was written for a children's choir at a Beirut orphanage. Composer Ahmed Kaboor had a vision of colourful flags, lights and lanterns hanging from every building.
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The longest vs shortest fasting hours: Ramadan North and South
An intimate look at the month of Ramadan through the eyes of Muslims in opposite ends of the world. Muslims worldwide observe the holy month of Ramadan, which involves fasting, prayer and spiritual reflection. However, observing Ramadan can be challenging in countries where daylight hours are very long. In Iceland, the nearly 24-hour daylight in summer can mean that fasting timings need adjusting. Some Icelandic Muslims fast in line with daylight, but others do so according to the time in the holy city of Mecca. Meanwhile, in the New Zealand winter, daylight hours can be relatively short, and some Muslims spend much of this time preparing for iftar, the after-sunset meal that breaks the fast.
Al Jazeera Documentary Channel is the first of its kind in the World. It is dedicated to documentary filmmaking worldwide, exploring a wide range of contemporary topics. It offers a wide range of high-quality documentaries and features on culture, science, environment, history, travel, politics, and the arts.
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