Ali Raïs (2007)

In 124, Ali Raïs, a pirate serving the Bey of Tunis, is captured by the Marquis of Santa Cruz and imprisoned in Palermo with his six hundred men. Italian witnesses identify him, leading to accusations of being a renegade and a potential target for the Inquisition. Ali attempts to control the trial's direction, repeatedly asserting his Muslim faith and denying any Christian affiliation. A prolonged struggle ensues between the court and the prisoner, with each side strategically managing the pace of the proceedings based on new evidence. This account of Ali Raïs is based on historical records, specifically the handwritten transcripts of his Inquisition hearings.