On Friday night, Iraqi social media star Ghufran Sawadi, known as Umm Fahad, was tragically shot dead outside her home in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. The incident occurred in the Zayouna area east of Baghdad and was captured on video by a surveillance camera, which was later shared on social media. The footage shows a gunman on a motorcycle shooting and killing Sawadi on the spot, as confirmed by a Baghdad police source.
In response to the killing, the country's Interior Minister announced the formation of a specialized team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack on the well-known social media personality. Sawadi, who gained popularity on TikTok for sharing videos of herself dancing to pop music in form-fitting clothes, had previously faced legal issues for content deemed inappropriate by Iraq's judiciary. She was sentenced to six months in prison for producing and publishing videos containing obscene and indecent language.
This tragic incident is not an isolated case, as other Iraqi social media influencers have also been targeted in deadly attacks. In September 2023, another popular TikTok personality, Noor Alsaffar, known as Noor BM, was shot dead in Baghdad. Alsaffar, who had a significant following on Instagram and TikTok, posted videos related to fashion, hair, and makeup, often featuring dance routines to music.
Following Alsaffar's killing, there were mixed reactions from the public, with some expressing sorrow over her death while others disturbingly celebrated the perpetrator. These incidents come at a time when Iraq has been cracking down on LGBTQ expression, moving towards criminalizing such activities in the country.
