Video: Syria tries to lure tourists to war-torn Aleppo with Game of Thrones theme

Game of Thrones has been used to hawk everything from coffee mugs to a Night’s Watch body pillow, but this is something else. The Syrian Ministry of Tourism is using HBO’s hit to attract tourisms to Aleppo, a city in the northwestern part of the country that’s currently at the center of a violent civil war. This video, uploaded on Friday, features panoramic shots of the city’s gleaming hotels and sparkling pools, all set to a remix of Ramin Djawadi’s iconic Game of Thrones theme song:

These images come from government-held portion of the city, which has only received light damage during the war. It’s in stark contrast with the rebel-controlled, eastern portion of the city, which is subject to daily airstrikes and constant ground fighting, according to the UN. Estimates put the those killed in the war thus far at well over 400,000, so it hardly seems appropriate to try and drive tourism to the area, let alone use Djawadi’s music to do it. Since Game of Thrones deals frankly with the horrors of war, the move feels especially tone-deaf.

ALEPPO, SYRIA – OCTOBER 01: Collapsed buildings around the Sahra Hospital after a barrel bomb strike by Syrian regime forces. (Photo by Ibrahim Ebu Leys/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Nonetheless, President Bashar al-Assad’s regime is touting the country’s appeal as a vacation destination, putting out additional videos and tweeting about Aleppo’s “thriving nightlife.” Incredibly poor taste notwithstanding, the fact that a government would use Game of Thrones to further its agenda is testament to its popularity. Let’s hope that hostilities cease as soon as possible.

h/t CNN