Iraqi reality show pulled off air after staging ‘Isis ambushes’ on celebrity guests

An Iraqi TV show that lured guests into simulated ambushes by militants has been pulled off air by Iraq’s media regulator.

Tannab Raslan, described as a form of reality TV, was aired as a special during the holy month of Ramadan, and followed celebrity guests who are invited to what is described as a ‘charity event’.

However, they are then subjected to a staged ambush by actors playing militants, and later freed by other actors played by security forces.

The ambush re-enactments include fake weapons and stunt explosions while the ‘militants’ threaten to detonate fake suicide vests, with hidden cameras filming everything.

In one episode, Iraqi actor Nessa Tanneb believes she is going to meet a family liberated from Isis rule, and is told at a mock checkpoint that the area they are about to enter was under attack by Isis militants.

An explosion is heard and militants storm the building, with Tanneb being blindfolded.

During the prank, Tanneb screamed and fainted as actors playing soldiers burst in to rescue her.

The show caused outrage among some viewers, who believed that the scenes made them relive the rule of Isis.

Baghdad resident Bashir al-Saddi told the Associated Press: ‘The scenes bring back memories of Daesh once again. Frankly, this is not acceptable, it is inhuman and uncivilised.’

Iraq’s Communication and Media Commission ordered it off the air this week.

However, presenter Raslan Haddad doesn’t agree that the show crossed any lines, and said: ‘Participants have no objection, they agreed to it.’

Calling the decision ‘unjust’, Haddad argued that the show also depicts the heroism of the Iraqi security forces.

At the height of its power, Islamic State held a third of Iraq’s territory and terrorised those under its rule, engaging in abductions, beheadings and enslavement.

The group was defeated in a three-year campaign with assistance from US-led coalition forces.

MORE : Chris Cornell’s family settles case against doctor

MORE : Superbad fame from McLovin gave me anxiety and a lot of breakdowns, says Christopher Mintz-Plasse