Viewers conflicted over Channel 4's controversial jihadi drama The State

Channel 4’s new drama The State has divided viewers.

The C4 drama – which follows a group of British Muslims who have been radicalised and go to Syria and join Islamic State – had been controversial even before it launched on Sunday night.

Writer and director Peter Kosminsky defended his reasons for humanising IS fighters, and argued that The State would help people to understand the nuance of a complex issue.

He had said that the C4 drama would “confront the fact that terrible things are done by people who are not inherently evil”, although many viewers criticised the broadcaster for airing the drama in the wake of last week's terror attack in Barcelona.

https://twitter.com/NicoleYounie/status/899367652518395905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishnews.com%2Fmagazine%2Fentertainment%2F2017%2F08%2F20%2Fnews%2Fisis-drama-the-state-should-have-been-delayed-say-viewers-1116063%2F

https://twitter.com/aliciakearns/status/899370447556489218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishnews.com%2Fmagazine%2Fentertainment%2F2017%2F08%2F20%2Fnews%2Fisis-drama-the-state-should-have-been-delayed-say-viewers-1116063%2F

https://twitter.com/LouisGibson97/status/899367068843335680

https://twitter.com/theorphanmoon68/status/899232965871501316

Some felt the drama was “glamourising” radicalisation…

https://twitter.com/CryPartisan/status/899367161432596480

https://twitter.com/careful_now0/status/899378049292042242

Others, meanwhile, praised The State and argued that the series was “eye opening”…

https://twitter.com/loubenson32/status/899361648779112449

https://twitter.com/ColourMeNix/status/899367981876207616

However, some viewers who did enjoy it added that it would have been more useful to have a drama which delved into the past of those who are radicalised, to try and find out what drove them to make this decision in the first place…

https://twitter.com/Sean_Arbuthnot_/status/899390351345057792

https://twitter.com/Maaiysa/status/899375258934923264

The State continues on Channel 4 at 10pm tonight