Iraqi social media star Ghufran Sawadi, widely recognized by her pseudonym Umm Fahad, was shot dead outside her residence in Baghdad’s eastern district of Zayouna. This shocking act was recorded by a surveillance camera, confirming the perpetrator arrived on a motorcycle and fired at Sawadi while she was in her vehicle. A Baghdad police source verified the video’s authenticity, which later circulated on social media platforms. This brutal assassination reveals the lethal risks faced by social media influencers in a country grappling with violence against public personalities that defy conservative norms.
Umm Fahad achieved fame on TikTok, amassing a substantial following for her videos where she danced to pop music, often donned in form-fitting attire. However, her content drew ire from Iraq’s judiciary, resulting in a six-month prison sentence for “producing and publishing several films and videos containing obscene and indecent language, violating public decency and morals,” according to a statement from the Iraqi judiciary.
The Interior Minister announced the formation of “a specialized work team to find out the circumstances of the killing of a woman known on social media by unknown assailants.” Meanwhile, other notable Iraqi social media figures have similarly been victims of fatal attacks. Notably, Noor Alsaffar, another popular TikTok personality, was shot dead in Baghdad in September 2023. These killings punctuate a troubling pattern of targeted violence against influencers who challenge societal norms, particularly those related to public decency, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
Alsaffar, like Sawadi, had a significant social media presence, with over 370,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, where she shared fashion, hair, and makeup tips. Her death led to a split in public reaction; some mourned her, while others praised the shooter. This disparity in responses underscores deep societal divisions over the role of social media and the boundaries of personal expression in Iraq.
Furthermore, this pattern of violence against influencers comes as Iraq intensifies its clampdown on LGBTQ expression and seeks to enforce laws criminalizing it. These incidents serve as a chilling reminder of the perilous landscape for Iraq’s social media influencers and LGBTQ community, who continue to push for personal freedoms in the face of cultural conservatism and legal constraints.
The deaths of Sawadi and Alsaffar, among others, accentuate the broader issue of the curtailment of civil liberties in Iraq, particularly for women and sexual minorities. Despite the country’s return to a semblance of normalcy following years of conflict, there remains a persistent suppression of freedoms rooted in “protecting” societal morals and traditions.
Amnesty International released a report on human rights in Iraq last year, criticizing the crackdown on ‘indecent content’. The report warned that authorities were attacking freedom of expression and introducing new laws to limit this right even more.
While the Iraqi government maintains that these measures are unrelated to freedom of expression, activists and rights groups warn of the broader implications.
Relevant articles:
– Iraqi TikTok star Umm Fahad shot dead in Baghdad, cnn.com, 04/28/2024
– Iraqi Tik-Tok star shot dead outside home in Baghdad, Middle East Eye, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 08:54:02 GMT
– Who was Om Fahad, the Iraqi TikTok popular figure shot dead in Baghdad?, The Week, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 11:57:13 GMT
– Quicksplained: Who was Om Fahad, the Iraqi TikTok star shot dead in Baghdad?, Firstpost, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 08:15:54 GMT
– TikTok star is assassinated in Iraq: Om Fahad is shot in her car as feud erupts with ‘Iraqi Barbie’ influencer rival and months after she was convicted for ‘morality offences’, Daily Mail, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 10:46:52 GMT