MBN’s groundbreaking documentary series Delusional Paradise won the Silver Award at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards. The winning episode, Arraqah Screams…I Am Not Daesh, won in the category of Best Current Affairs, Human Concerns & Social Issues Documentary. Delusional Paradise is a part of the Middle East Broadcasting Network’s “Raise Your Voice” initiative that exposes the brutality of extremism and the viciousness of Daesh through the stories of the living victims.
The series documents the early days of the Syrian uprising in Arraqah city and how extremist groups hijacked and killed the dreams and aspirations of people who asked for democracy and greater freedoms. Arraqah Screams exposes Daesh’s actions and denounces its claims to represent Islam. The series portrays the ordeal of families and communities who lost loved ones to Daesh and were forced to leave their homes to seek refuge. Through raw and gripping firsthand accounts, Arraqah Screams tells the story of Mohammed Messri, a teacher and activist, who fled Daesh captivity and expresses his anger and grief as a reluctant witness to extremism and the Islamic State’s barbaric brutality.
“This recognition of Alhurra’s Delusional Paradise is a further testament to the excellence of Alhurra’s journalism and the superb quality of its programs,” stated Brian Conniff, President of MBN. “Alhurra will continue to provide top-notch programming that will address issues of high importance in the lives of our viewers and accurately inform them about developments in the region.”