Antonio Banderas Plays Ahmad Ibn Fadlan

With the release of the 13th Warrior, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) wrote Disney to thank them for their positive portrayal of an Arab in a major motion picture. In a letter written by ADC President Hala Maksoud to Disney CEO Michael Eisner, she writes: “We were delighted to note that this character is not only a hero and a positive figure, but that he is an Arab Muslim character who is not defined purely by his ethnic or religious identity and has a strong individual personality. All too often, Arab characters in Hollywood films are simply one or another negative stereotype.’’

Perhaps this is the beginning of a new trend in Hollywood to lay off the Muslim and Arab stereotypes in favor of some more challenging positive roles. The last positive Muslim role that comes to mind was in the 1991 movie ``Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'. Actor Morgan Freeman played Azeem, a philosophizing Moor who develops a deep bond with Robin Hood, whom he calls ``Christian'. Movies such as these not only present a positive image of Muslims but also provide audiences with a deeper understanding of the great many cultures and people that make up the Islamic faith. One can only hope that Hollywood has changed its ways and in the future will continue to release positive portrayals of the Arab and Muslim people in major motion pictures, not to mention cartoons as well.

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