No laughing matter: IS threatens to kill Saudi comedian

A new comedy series broadcast on MBC - a popular Arab television network - has been causing a stir on social media, but not for the reasons its directors, producers, cast and fans may hope.

The Saudi comedian and lead actor, Nasser al-Qassabi, received a tweet warning him that the Islamic State group "will not rest" until he is beheaded.


Translation: I swear that you will regret everything you have said. The Jihadists in Arab peninsula will not rest until your head has been separated from your body.

The comedian and his show, #Selfie, have been deemed controversial since the it started. Qassabi's roles mocking Muslim scholars and IS alike have been widely discussed on social media - yet it was the second episode that got him a beheading threat, after openly mocking IS' mass beheadings, recruitment and jihadi sex.

The episode revolves around a father, played by Qassabi, travelling to find his son - an IS recruit. As he arrives at their camp, he pretends to become a part of the group, and soon finds himself in trouble.

In one of the scenes, Qassabi's character appears hesitant about joining a "mass beheading party" of captured farmers labelled infidels. He faints when it's his turn to lop off a head, and is made to marry someone to help him "integrate".

"Two episodes have shaken IS feelings," tweeted Fahd Deghaither, a writer at al-Hayat newspaper. "What would have happened if we had a whole production city with complete cinematic events? Who will stand against that?"