Kashmiris are watching Dirilis Ertugrul despite the internet shutdown

With the four-month long internet shutdown, watching Diriliş: Ertuğrul has now become a popular family activity in occupied Kashmir, ThePrint.in reports.

Diriliş: Ertuğrul (Turkish for ‘Resurrection: Ertugrul, and Ertugrul for short) is essentially a Turkish Game of Thrones about the Muslim Oghuz Turks. The show’s high production value and portrayal of traditional Islamic values have made it a phenomenal worldwide hit.

Kashmiris are getting to watch the show by sharing files on USB flash drives, procuring from those who had downloaded it before the shutdown or from those travelling outside the Valley. This is as local cable operators are also prohibited from airing content from Pakistan, Turkey and Iran among other countries.

Also read: What is Dirilis Ertugrul and why does Imran Khan want Pakistanis to watch it?

Even though the show was popular before the curfew and the internet clampdown as well, its popularity has only reached new heights. Since then, with the situation in the occupied territory, the show's context has taken on a new meaning and discussing the show’s twists and turns has become a popular public activity and keeps people entertained.

Speaking to ThePrint.in, a resident of Srinagar’s Chanapora area, Waseem Shafi shared that during the days of the curfew, he and his family spent most of their day watching the series at home, only leaving to do chores in the evening when the curfew would be relaxed.

“A friend of mine suggested the series. There was nothing to do during the clampdown and I started to watch it. Slowly, my family got interested too. My father, before he heads out of the home, strictly asks us to pause the series if we are watching it. Besides we can relate to the series culturally and politically, especially in today’s atmosphere when there is massive repression on several freedoms and rights,” he said.

An action adventure serial full of sword fights, Ertugrul is based on stories of the Muslim Oghuz Turks, fighting invading Mongols, Christian Byzantines and the fanatic Knights Templar Crusaders in Anatolia (now modern day Turkey) of the 12th century.