BBC divides opinion with Daesh comedy sketch

One character is seen modeling a suicide-bomb vest, as if it is a fashionable outfit. (BBC)

Heard the one about the Daesh bride?
As jokes go, it does not sound like one with a particularly funny punch line.
But a BBC clip, which aired this week and has since gone viral online, took aim at the brutal terror group — with satire as its only weapon.
The “Real Housewives of ISIS” clip, part of a BBC2 show called “Revolting,” has sparked controversy among viewers.
It depicts fictional British women talking about life in Daesh territory, apparently inspired by real stories of young women who fled the UK to become so-called “jihadi brides.” Many such women were groomed online by Daesh members in Syria and Iraq.
In one scene in the BBC comedy sketch, a character called Afsana says: “It’s only three days until the beheading, and I’ve no idea what I’m going to wear.”
Character Mel says: “Abdul seduced me online. He had me at ‘free health care.’”
Another character is seen modeling a suicide-bomb vest, as if it is a fashionable new outfit. Her friend says, “You look gorgeous!” before adding to the camera: “She looked massive. You’re gonna need a lot of Semtex to kill that one.”
The clip has attracted more than 15 million views on BBC2’s Facebook page, and around 72,000 comments.
Opinion was divided, perhaps inevitably given the subject. Some found it funny and a valid way to confront Daesh; others said it was distasteful and trivialized the plight of women enslaved by the terror group in Iraq and Syria.
One Facebook user called “Bint Aadam”, wrote: “This is pathetic. I’m a Muslim woman and I’m shocked by how little regard and respect you have for the many victims who’ve been murdered by ISIS. How can you take something as disturbing as murder and turn it into a stupid comedy? Whoever’s involved in the making of this trash needs to be fired.”
But user Charlotte Rachael welcomed the satirical approach: “This is exactly what we need! Terror groups like ISIS want everyone to live in fear and now we’re doing the exact opposite,” she wrote.
Facebook user Rasha Salim also wrote: “I’m from Iraq we are affected by ISIS directly and I find this funny... It is time to make fun of these ridiculous and crazy (beliefs that have) nothing to do with any religion... I bet if an ISIS member sees this he/she will be furious and just the thought of this made me happy.”
A BBC spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by Arab News, but acknowledged the “satire” had “divided opinion.”
The London-based terrorism and extremism expert Davis Lewin dismissed claims made by some that Daesh is not a valid subject for satire.
“I think it’s ridiculous that people are complaining about it,” he told Arab News. “What has this country come to… if people are now fretting about making fun of them?”
Lewin said he welcomed the “Real Housewives of ISIS” sketch, as it confronted the Daesh ideology.
“I don’t think the BBC is doing enough in the battle of ideas against ISIS, so I was very happy to see it,” he said.
“I thought it was actually quite funny. Of course you can make fun of (Daesh), but really you should be killing them, and winning the war on them.”