Iraq: Reality TV show brings Isis terrorists face to face with victims

State-run Iraqiyya TV is producing a new show, where convicted terrorists come face-to-face with victims.

Titled In the Grip of the Law, the show aims to boost confidence in Iraq's security forces following their defeat last summer to the Islamic State (Isis) militants that have claimed over a third of the country.

Haider Ali Motar, 21, is one such terrorist who appears in the reality TV show following his conviction over carrying out a number of Baghdad car bombings on behalf of IS.

Arriving on the scene in an armoured vehicle, Motar found himself facing the relatives of one of the victims who had died in his attack.

"Give him to me — I'll tear him to pieces," said one of the relatives shouting from behind a barbed wire barrier, reported The Associated Press.

Motar in his yellow prison jumpsuit and shackles remained mute with his head down when confronted by his angry victims.

When the show's host Ahmed Hassan introduced a man on a wheelchair who lost his father in one of Motar's attacks, Motar began weeping.

"We wanted to produce a programme that offers clear and conclusive evidence, with the complete story, presented and shown to Iraqi audiences. Through surveillance videos, we show how the accused parked the car, how he blew it up, how he carries out an assassination," Hassan told AP News.

The show highlights how the perpetrators are brought to justice by the security forces.

"We show our audiences the pictures, along with hard evidence, to leave no doubts that this person is a criminal and paying for his crimes," said Hassan.

Several human rights groups have condemned the airing of confessions by the accused prisoners.

Donatella Rovera of Amnesty International said: "The justice system is so flawed and the rights of detainees, especially those accused of terrorism (but not only) are so routinely violated that it is virtually impossible to be confident that they would be able to speak freely.

"In recent months, which I have spent in Iraq, virtually every family I have met who has a relative detained has complained that they do not have access to them, and the same is true for lawyers."

Iraqi security officials insist, however, that the show sends a strong message.

"Many of these terrorists feel a lot of remorse when they see the victims. When people see that, it makes them think twice about crossing the law," said a senior intelligence officer.