The virulently anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church has apparently accepted a challenge from British funnyman Adam Hills to take their protests to Iraq.

Known for their "God Hates Fags" tagline, the church regularly makes news by sending protesters to soldier's funerals, citing the deaths as divine retaliation for the growing acceptance of gays and lesbians in society. Church members have equated LGBTQ equality with Christian persecution, and lent their support to businesses which refuse to serve the homosexual market. 

Like Us on Facebook

On his show The Last Leg , Hills directly challenged the church as part of a comedy routine. In part, he stated that if the Westboro Baptist Church was so concerned about "defending the Christian way of life," they should take their protests to Iraq, a country whose internecine conflict is divided sharply down religious lines and where scores of Christians have been killed or displaced for their faith.

Hills demanded members put their money where their mouth is by flying to Iraq and picketing those threatening Christians for not converting.

The comedian further stated that he is willing to pay for every single member to fly to the Middle Eastern nation, and even offered to purchase all of them first class tickets.

The rant set off a flame-war on Twitter between Hills and Westboro members who accepted the challenge, calling on Hills to shut up or "show us plane tickets." Hills responded saying he plans on replying to the Westboro Baptist Church on tonight's episode of The Last Leg.

Church members then tweeted: "Iraq here we come."

Hills targeted the church in response to their promise of disrupting tributes to the late Robin Williams, who played a gay character in 1996 film, "The Birdcage." Williams, who committed suicide earlier this month, battled depression for years prior to taking his own life.

TagsAdam Hills, Westboro Baptist Church, Iraq, Christian persecution, westboro, westboro goes to iraq, Robin Williams