Last July, EA’s Joanna Paraszczuk wrote about the Islamic State of Iraq and as-Sham’s offensive for hearts-and-minds in northern Syria.

Their not-so-secret weapon? A fun fair, with cream-eating contests, Qur’an-reading competitions, and even a tug-of-war with the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra:

But since those heady summer days, life has not been so cheerful for ISIS. Since January, it has been in a bloody fight with Syrian insurgents across northern and eastern Syria. While it still holds some towns and Raqqa, the largest city outside the Syrian regime’s control, it has been pushed back in many areas. It is in a bitter dispute with Jabhat al-Nusra for influence inside the country. And it is no longer in the forefront of the challenge to overthrow President Assad.

So it was with more than a tinge of excitement that we learned on Monday of ISIS’s latest “fun fair” in Raqqa. Could it put joy back into its control of the city? Would sharia be accompanied with laughs? Would it finally triumph in tug-of-war?

Alas, no.

You can’t say that the ISIS man on the mic is livening up the crowd — even his partner laying down the beat seems to be falling asleep.

There are a few children showing enthusiasm waving flags, but kids always like to get hold of a flag. You can’t exactly say there is a surge of interest in the drawings and colored pencils on the main table.

And for some reason — which I can someone can explain to me — there don’t seem to be any women at the festivities.

All in all, a bit of a Fun Fail.

(h/t Joanna Paraszczuk)