Dr. Halla Diyab is British Libyan-born award-winning screenwriter, author, producer, broadcaster and TV commentator on British media and has recently appeared on Channel 4 News, BBC Newsnight, CNN, Sky News, Channel 5 News, ITV Central, Al-Jazeera English, STV Scotland Tonight and BBC Radio 4. She is also an author and analyst at The Jamestown Foundation monthly subscription-based "Militant Leadership Monitor". Diyab is a columnist at al-Arabiya English News, writing on Syria, ISIS and Middle East political affairs. She has also written several successful Arab soap operas and produced several documentaries which have been aired across the Middle East, Europe and the UK, and have featured in international film festivals. She worked as a TV presenter on Rotana Cinema TV Channel co-hosting the Egyptian talk show Lady of Ladies as well as holding a regular guest spot on Egypt's Hala Sarhan Show. Recently she hosted a weekly talk show from London on ANB TV in London. She also hosted Syria on the Table TV talk show series. Diyab was listed in Aliqtisadi Magazine as one of the most influential women in Syria for 2011. She was profiled in the "Women Like Us" exhibition that celebrated inspirational Muslim women. She is also the Founder and the Director of Liberty Media Productions which focuses on cross-cultural issues between Britain and the Middle East. Diyab is a public speaker who spoke at the House of Commons, the Spectator Debate, Leicester National Interfaith Week, Uniting for Peace and London's Frontline Club. As well as working in the British media, she has worked in Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria and is an expert on the Middle East and Islamic culture.
Education
Diyab graduated with a PhD in Drama on Crossing the margin: minorities and marginality in the drama of Tennessee Williams from the University of Leicester, BA and MA in Gender and Women Studies from the University of Warwick, she has an outstanding academic record with an Award for Best Presentation in the Area of Business, Social Science and Arts at the University of Leicester Postgraduate Festival in June 2006. Diyab is also a published author as her latest book "Crossing the Margin" was published by LAP Lambert Academic Publishing in October 2012.
Campaign against extremism
In 2005 Diyab was commissioned to write her first television series, Beautiful Maidens. The title was derived from the 72 beautiful virgins who are said to meet martyrs in heaven. The series was about the victims and perpetrators of a suicide bombing in Saudi Arabia. It aired during Ramadan and generated high viewing figures and mass media interest.
She also wrote a 30-episode television drama; Ma Malakat Aymanukum, or Your Rightful Disposal, which was also broadcast during Ramadan. The title is from a passage in the Koran which talks of the enslavement of women. This series breaks of taboos on a range of contentious topics such as homosexuality, virginity, extremism, sexual and physical abuse, the burqa and the French ban on face covering. The show follows a woman who moves to France from the Middle East and what her life is like without the burka.
Ma Malakat Aymanukum also received high viewing figures.
Criticism
After Beautiful Maidens aired, Diyab became a target for clerics and scholars who accused her of insulting Islam. Before the release of Ma Malakat Aymanukum unsuccessful attempts were made to persuade the Syrian government to ban her work.
Diyab has been accused of atheism and her private life was investigated by religious leaders. Sheikh Said Ramadan al-Bouti claimed that God was withholding rain as a punishment to the nation for her work.
She received further opposition during an interview on London-based Arabic TV channel Alhiwar in October 2010.
In response, she stated, "I feel marginalized and I am always under fire in the Middle East media because of my liberal views and because I strive to break the boundaries. Religious scholars want to silence the voice of women and they play the role of politicians in the Middle East."
Controversy over the Burka
She has been outspoken about the burka. In addition to writing Ma Malakat Aymanukum, she has expressed personal views on the clothing item.
She believes Arabic women are being oppressed by men claiming to be motivated by religion. She sees the burka as a barrier to women achieving the equality they deserve.
Meetings with Gaddafi
Diyab was approached twice by former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi over media projects. In 2007 they discussed a film he wanted made about the Italian colonisation of Libya. The film was to be called "Dhulm: Years of Torment".