during ramadan, al-manar features special programs, many of which are self-produced. in 2001, "izz al-din al-qassam: qisat al-jihad wa al-muqawama" ("izz al-din al-qassam: a story of jihad and resistance"), a four-part drama based on the life of izz al-din al-qassam, an early-twentieth-century arab, after whom the izz ad-din al-qassam brigades are named. it was considered a success among palestinians. the 2002 program "faris bi la jawad" ("a knight without a horse"), which was produced by an egyptian, was based on "the protocols of the elders of zion", an old russian anti-semitic text claiming a conspiracy of jews control the world, like many programs of the station. the 29-part series "ash-shatat" ("the diaspora"), which was aired in 2003, was also based on "the protocols" and produced in syria; it led to the banning of al-manar in france.