Why We Need ‘The Real Housewives Of ISIS’
I love satire and comedy. In the battle of ideas, its firepower cannot be overstated. In these bleak times of daily Islamic encroachments on humanity, I often looked to the masters of this game to provide some levity, and most importantly – to fire some shots back. Verbally of course.
It’s with great regret then, that the satirical titans of our day (and heroes of mine) consistently go missing where this topic is concerned.
From Jon Stewart, to Charlie Brooker – they lost their bottle. Turning their sights singularly on the right-wing response to Islamic terrorism. “Did you see what FOX news said? Aren’t they idiots? Glad we all agree”. Applause.
If there’s no satire or humour to be found at the expense of cartoonophobic grown men martyring themselves for fast-track access to virgins and paradise, just where the hell can it be found? It practically writes itself.
You can imagine my surprise and sense of joy then, when I came across this trailer for the BBC’s ‘The Real Housewives Of ISIS’ today:
It’s hilarious and precisely what is needed. That reassuring thought soon began to fade along with my grin as it dawned on me what was about to happen: the backlash, the outrage, the offence, the obligatory screams of ‘Islamophobia’.
A quick Google search revealed I was already late to the game:
It’s of great curiosity to me that people can claim ISIS have nothing to do with Islam, whilst trying to argue that the mocking of voluntary, western inhabitants of the caliphate is ‘Islamophobic’.
I must also ask what it is these people would prefer? That the first introduction to the idea of Jihadi matrimony comes to young Muslims by way of comedy such as ‘The Real Housewives Of ISIS’, or via Mohammed on his laptop from Syria? Would they rather life in the caliphate be turned into an embarrassing joke by these talented young women, or sold by a charismatic solider of Allah instead?
As soon as the mainstream is able to own the narrative on these things, and mock them for the absurdities that they are, the sooner their mystique and power will be diluted.
Just look at these young, talented women in hijabs – relentlessly belittling something that only attracts young girls because they are convinced it is the greatest honour - romantic almost. A duty. The male theocrats will not like this sketch-based counter-narrative. Not one bit. This, I would suggest is the perfect measure by which to decide what’s worth supporting in life. It’s just such a shame that the humourless and perpetually offended do not see this for what it is – progress.
Stephen Knight is host of The #GSPodcast. You can listen to The Godless Spellchecker Podcast here, and support it by becoming a patron here.