Al-Kasasbeh family criticize Garabib Soud Soap Opera

CAIRO – 16 June 2017: Jawad Al-Kasasbeh, brother of Royal Jordanian Air Force pilot Muath Al-Kasasbeh who was arrested and burned alive in 2015 by the Islamic State group (IS), denied the existence of some scenes in the "Garabib Soud" series which were considered to be offensive to his brother.

Jawad Al-Kasasbeh recounted that this is not the first time for the story of his brother to be exploited in a series. He pointed out that last year an Iraqi television channel screened a comic soap opera that contained offensive scenes about his brother. The Al-Kasasbeh family later succeeded in intervening legally and diplomatically to stop the show.

Another TV channel aired a program about confessions of people who parted from Islamic state and used the Al-Kasasbeh name to promote the program. Other media outlets have promoted the existence of a person who claims to have been with Al-Kasasbeh martyr in prison, and that he is still alive.

In a recent Facebook page post Al-Kasasbeh states, "Some scenes in [the] Grabib Soud series on MBC channel talked about a Jordanian pilot who went to bombardment Islamic State, of course this pilot is the martyr Muath Al-Kasasbeh.’’ Jawad emphasised that no one asked for the Al-Kasabeh family’s permission or even informed them about such scenes.

Jawad wonders, how long will the exploitation of the Jordanian martyr symbol in soap operas and channels continue.

‘’Muath Al-Kasasbeh is the son of Jordan and one of its symbols, not our son alone. How long they will continue to use his name and remind us of all what hurts our feelings?” said Jawad, directing his words to the Jordanian government. Al-Kasasbeh has asked the government to intervene and stop media from annoying the martyr family.

“Garabib Soud” which means pitch-black in Arabic, is based on true details narrated by real characters who experienced firsthand the dire reality of IS. The Garbib Soud series tackles how IS recruits its supporters and convinces them with their terrorism ideas through brainwashing carried out by IS leaders.

Actors and actresses participating in the series include Egypt's Sayed Ragab, Samar Allam, and Ramez Amir; Saudi Mohammed Al-Ahmad, Rashed Al-Shamrani, Yacoub Farhan, Marwa Mohammed, and Assil Omran; Tunisian Fatma El Nasser and Ayman Mabrouk; and Liza Deabes. The series has three directors, Maram Al Baloushi, Sarah Mohammed and Mona Shadad.