Iraqi comedy show mocks Islamic State propaganda

[Anthea]

The Telegraph

Iraqi comedy show mocks Islamic State propaganda

Iraqi state television will show a comedy series mocking the group in an attempt to form a counter-argument against the terrorist group

How do you counter a terrorist group beheading Western journalists and aid workers as well as killing thousands of Muslims and Iraqi minorities? According to one broadcaster, comedy is the answer.

A man in a devil costume and a leader similar to Isil's self-proclaimed Caliph hatching from an egg may not sound like the best way to counter Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant on paper but in a new comedy, Iraqi state television plans to do just that.

In a trailer for State of Superstition to be shown on Iraqiya state TV, the producers play on the beliefs in some parts of Iraq that Isil has been created by the CIA, Israel and Gulf monarchies to cause chaos.

In the video, viewers are presented with a cowboy figure representing America and a man dressed as the devil with horns leading a group of jihadist fighters through the desert.

The cowboy then leads the devil to his bride - a Jewish princess who wears a large star of David around her neck. There is also a woman with sunglasses and a bright green trouser suit, evidently a reference to Sheikha Mozah, the first lady of Qatar.

The Joker of Batman fame, Dracula and a dwarf are among the random mix of characters in the background, all dancing to the series' catchy theme song, a parody of a known Isil anthem.

Viewers are then shown the result of the union between the Jewish bride and the devil and the latter sings: "The egg hatched, a little Isil-ling emerged."

In the full trailer, the Baghdadi figure that grows out of the shell then leads a choir of officers from Saddam Hussein's ex-ruling Baath party into reciting his programme of blood-letting for Iraq with the refrain: "O beheader, where are you?"

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Towards the end of the full trailer, the "caliph" kills the Baathists one by one, a not-so-subtle Faustian warning that he who bargains with the devil chooses his own demise.

Despite the programme successfully being made, the director said there were some fears from the cast.

Ali al-Qassem told AFP: "We encountered many difficulties, notably when some of the artists were too afraid to take part in the shooting out of security concerns."

He added those who acted in the show believed their work would form part of the war effort.

"We all have a duty to defend this country. We are not good at using weapons but we can also help defeat Isil through our work," Mr Qassem said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... ganda.html