KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has invited the public to attend the "Hadji Murat" theatre, which runs from June 26 to 29 at Balai Budaya Tun Syed Nasir, Wisma Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).
Adapted from the work of renowned Russian author Leo Tolstoy, the play offers profound lessons, particularly on the ongoing violence and extortion politics in Palestine.
Anwar highlighted the character of Hadji Murat, who finds himself trapped between two oppressive powers while striving to save his family.
He noted that the story underscores the devastating effects of war and brutality.
"Recalling my time teaching in the United States post-9/11, we had numerous discussions on Islamophobia and terrorism. I often referred to Tolstoy's 'Hadji Murat,' which narrates the Russian Empire's conquest of the Muslim population in Dagestan, North Caucasus," Anwar shared in a Facebook post.
"Hadji Murat was a close confidant of Imam Shamil, a key warrior in the region's leadership. Together, they fought against the Russian Empire led by Tsar Nicholas I, clashing with the colonisers to free their families.
"Tolstoy's work evokes sympathy for Murat, especially in today's world, plagued by oppression and extortion politics, much like in Palestine."
Anwar praised Tolstoy's ability to convey powerful messages through his work, noting that despite being nominated for the Nobel Prize, Tolstoy is best known for his masterpieces "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina", written between 1896 and 1904, until he passed away.
The staging of Hadji Murat, directed by A Wahab Hamzah and managed by Badan Budaya DBP, involves around 100 actors, including big names in theatre such as Che Kem, Dr Rusdeen Suboh and Ard Omar.