Channel 4 urged to delay screening of ISIS drama in wake of Barcelona attack by daughter of British aid worker beheaded by Jihadi John
Bethany Haines endured the horror of seeing her father David killed by extremists and said The State should be postponed
CHANNEL 4 has been urged to postpone a drama about Islamic State in the wake of the Barcelona atrocity by the daughter of a British aid worker beheaded by Jihadi John.
Bethany Haines, 20, whose father David was murdered by the ISIS fanatic, said controversial 'The State' should be delayed out of compassion for the families of those involved in Thursday's attacks.
The first episode of the four-part programme is due to be screened tonight and a spokesman for the broadcaster said there are no plans to shelve the programme.
The series will continue on Monday through to Wednesday.
Writing for the she asked TV executives to imagine one of their own loved-ones had been involved in the horror in Spain.
She wrote: "The violence in the drama would be upsetting to anyone. But I think it would be particularly horrifying for those affected by the events of the last few days.
"So, I would like to say to Channel 4's executives: Put yourselves in that situation."
David, 44, was the first Brit to die in the killer’s propaganda videos in September 2014.
Bethany then turned to booze and drugs to numb the torment of his abduction by Islamic State.
The 19-year-old went off the rails as the stress of being forced by authorities to keep his capture secret for 17 months took its toll.
A total of 14 people were killed in two attacks in Barcelona and the coastal town of Cambrils on Thursday and the early hours of Friday.
British schoolboy Julian Cadman, seven, was among those killed in the terror rampages.
The State is based on facts about, and extensive research into, the involvement of British citizens in the ISIS regime.
It was written and directed by Peter Kosminsky, whose previous credits include acclaimed BBC drama Wolf Hall.
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The programme follows four British Muslims who find themselves travelling to Raqqah, Syria to become part of ISIS.
Promotional material suggests it will feature distressing images of brutality of life under ISIS, including beheadings and youngsters playing football with severed heads.
A Channel 4 spokesman said: "We are planning to broadcast The State tonight in its scheduled slot. The drama is a fictional account of the brutalities of IS in Syria and does not recreate any terror incidents in Europe.
"Peter Kosminsky's drama is based on extensive factual research and offers an unflinching insight into the horrific actions of IS which we believe is an important subject to confront and explore."