Red light, red light

Organizer of unlicensed ‘Squid Game’ event in Sulaymaniyah vanishes with participants left in dark

SULAYMANIYAH — Hundreds of hopeful contestants have been left empty-handed after the organizer of a “Squid Game”-inspired competition in Sulaymaniyah disappeared, taking with him their entry fees. The event, which promised cash rewards and an Umrah trip to Saudi Arabia, never materialized, and the organizer has been unreachable for more than a week.

“Squid Game,” a South Korean television series that premiered in 2021, became a global phenomenon on Netflix. The show follows 456 debt-ridden contestants who compete in a series of deadly children’s games—including variations of “Red Light, Green Light” and “Tug of War”—for a massive cash prize going to the survivor. Contestants who failed the games were killed.

Known for its high stakes and suspense, the series became Netflix’s most-watched series ever, inspiring unlicensed spin-offs and events like the one planned in Sulaymaniyah.

Karwan Ali, one of a dozen participants who protested in Sulaymaniyah Tuesday night, told 964media that he and others bought tickets for the event in early January. Since then, the organizer has gone silent, with phone lines disconnected and social media accounts inactive.

“I paid 13,000 Iraqi dinars (around $8.67) to participate, while many others paid 25,000 dinars (around $16.67),” Ali said. He noted that the organizer had initially advertised six prizes, with first place receiving a cash reward. Ali estimates around 456 people registered for the competition, mirroring the number of contestants in the original “Squid Game,” but they are now left wondering how to recover their money.

Attempts to contact Reber Hadi, the individual behind the Kurdish Squid Game event, were unsuccessful. His phone remains off and his social media accounts have gone quiet. Hadi, known on TikTok for promoting online courses in multiple languages, had previously insisted the competition would go forward.

In January, Hadi told 964media’s Kurdish edition, “I got my concept from the same network, it include six similar games and so far, more than 200 people have signed up.” He also promoted a WhatsApp and Viber number for prospective participants to reserve a spot, stating, “We have not received any official approval from security authorities yet, only participant registrations.”

Sources within Sulaymaniyah’s security forces said they were unaware of the event. “If an event does not have the necessary permits, measures will be taken to prevent deception, fraud, and potential harm to citizens,” a security official told 964media. All public activities, the official stressed, require prior authorization.

This is not the first unlicenced event based on beloved franchises to leave customers short-changed. One year ago, “Willy’s Chocolate Experience“– based on Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory – in Glasgow, Scotland, faced severe backlash after attendees, who paid £35 (approximately $44) per ticket, encountered a sparsely decorated warehouse instead of the promised immersive “celebration of chocolate.” The event, organized by House of Illuminati, was criticized for its lackluster setup, leading to disappointment among families and viral accounts of distraught children. For one attraction at the event, children were each handed a single jellybean.

Participants in Sulaymaniyah rally to voice their frustration after the organizer of an unlicensed “Squid Game”event disappeared (Video still by 964media - Feb. 2, 2025)

Participants in Sulaymaniyah rally to voice their frustration after the organizer of an unlicensed “Squid Game”event disappeared (Video still by 964media - Feb. 2, 2025)