Iraqi prank television show condemned for 'fake bomb' stunts

An Iraqi prank television show has taken the 'candid camera' format to a new level after planting fake bombs under celebrities' cars.


The programme, “Put Him In Bucca”, also threatens high-profile contests with jail in a maximum-security prison despite their protests of innocence.

The show, broadcast on the Al-Baghdadia network, targets famous Iraqi singers, comedians and artists.

It is named after the US military’s Camp Bucca high security prison that held thousands of Iraqi detainees before being closed in 2009.

Participants are invited to the station’s studios for an interview but as they arrive are subjected to a checkpoint complete actors posing as police and security personnel.

As they wait outside the building a fake improvised explosive device (IED) is then planted in the car before they are accused of being suicide bombers and threatened with prison.

But the programme has attracted criticism as being in bad taste, in a country where suicide bombings remain frequent.

The show has continued to be broadcast throughout the fasting month of Ramadan despite numerous protests being held objecting to its making fun of a serious issue.

Despite celebrities later giving permission for the show to air, some appeared to be have been shocked by the experience.

"I expected it to be a candid camera show but didn't expect all the army facilities and this level of acting," said actress Asia Kamal, who was targeted by the pranksters.

"God Bless them, they have good acting skills and are involved in such programmes, they were patient and helpful."

Viewers criticised the programme in comment posted on the station’s website.

“Everyone knows that Iraq is living under unnatural circumstances on all sides, so why do you make a program that is based on fear, provocation and mocking, especially to Iraqis,” one viewer said.

Ali al-Khalidi, the show’s host, who appears on screen in many of the setups, told The New York Times: “The show will continue until the end of Ramadan.

“Yes, there have been a lot of things said about it in the newspapers and on radio and television, but it will go on.”

The program's producers defended the show, saying that it was only entertainment and nobody was harmed.

They added that the episodes are broadcast only after the celebrities involved give their consent.

Najam Aboud Ghathban, one producer, described the programme as "pure comedy".

Baghdad is on alert following the official end of American combat operations and an al-Qaeda attack on a military academy two days ago.
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Fuck it, why not take the piss? It's been a pointless fight anyway.

I find it funny that they think that 'prank killing people' is funny though. Our best job of Ashton Kutcher, "was that my car window being smashedd.. OH NOESS!!!" "YOU JASS GOT PUUUNKED DUDE" "LOLZ".

These guys put fake bombs underneathe your car, that's same real shit.

lol

has anyone seen that japanese show that had a matey going for a job interview or something and a sniper 'shooting' the interviewer.

This reminded me of that

LOL the fuck kinda joke is that.

If someone tryed to pull that on me, i'd wile the fuck out.