Sharjah, RAK Rulers attend premier of historical film ‘Khor Fakkan 1507’

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, in the presence of Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, attended the premier of ‘Khor Fakkan 1507,’ a Sharjah movie production that tells the story of the Khor Fakkan people’s epic resistance to the Portuguese invasion in the 16th century.

The historical film was produced by the Sharjah Radio and TV Authority under Sheikh Sultan’s support and tells the story of how Khor Fakkan inhabitants fought the Portuguese occupation.

It portrays the situation in Khor Fakkan as depicted in the introduction to the book of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah.

The events begin to change rapidly when a Portuguese fleet of six ships led by the Portuguese commander Afonso de Albuquerque and a group of nobles taking after a local boat (Snobuk), which was trying to escape north towards Hormuz. When the boat arrived in Khor Fakkan, it turned behind the island of Sira Khor Fakkan or the so-called now the "Shark Island" to warn the locals that the Portuguese had approached Khor Fakkan.

The inhabitants of Khor Fakkan agreed among themselves to resist and not to surrender to the Portuguese invaders, especially after they learned what happened in the areas that the invader passed by before their arrival in Khor Fakkan.

The battle of Khor Fakkan begins on the day following the arrival of the fleet after bombing and landing of forces, and then invading the city before Afonso de Albuquerque practiced his inhumane hobby of cutting ears and amputating noses and taking the young people as prisoners to serve him on the fleet. He then ordered thievery of houses then burning them down upon learning about a support from Khor Fakkan’s neighbouring areas arrived in Khor Fakkan.

More than 300 people took part in the film, which included a selection of Arab and Emirati artists and producers. All stages of shooting were filmed on the shores of Khor Fakkan, its farms, mountains and ancient city. A wall akin to the historic Khor Fakkan Wall was built. The Khor Fakkan Wall was excavated, found and then rebuilt in the same specifications and measurements with the main gate and houses and the mosque.

It was also provided various types of local vessels that were used in that period of time, in addition to the construction of a Portuguese ship in real size, based on accurate historical documents of the specifications of the six ships to shot real scenes.

Producing this film with all these specifications, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah aims to instill the idea of the resistance that Khor Fakkan carried out during that important period in the history of the country and to familiarise the present generations, especially young people, with the suffering of the people of Khor Fakkan in their resistance against the brutal Portuguese invasion and occupation.

Attending the show of the film as well were a large number of Sheikhs, ministers, dignitaries and senior state officials.