Iraqi social media influencer shot dead in Baghdad

Iraqi authorities connected Saturday were investigating nan sidesplitting of a well-known societal media influencer, who was changeable by an equipped motorcyclist successful beforehand of her location successful cardinal Baghdad.

Ghufran Mahdi Sawadi, known arsenic Um Fahad aliases "mother of Fahad," was celebrated connected nan societal media sites TikTok and Instagram, wherever she posted videos of herself dancing to euphony and was followed by tens of thousands of users.

An Iraqi information official, who said connected nan information of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to nan media, said that nan assailant opened occurrence arsenic Sawadi parked her Cadillac successful beforehand of her location connected Friday, sidesplitting her, past took her telephone and fled nan scene.

Iraqi TikTok personage Om Fahed is pictured astatine nan Basra International Stadium during a lucifer of nan Arabian Gulf Cup shot tourney connected January 19, 2023. HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP via Getty Images

The sidesplitting took spot successful Zayoona, nan aforesaid vicinity wherever a salient Iraqi interrogator and information master Hisham al-Hashimi was gunned down successful 2020. Before nan U.S. penetration of 2003, nan vicinity was location to subject leaders and considered a prestigious area successful Baghdad. In caller years, galore militia leaders person taken up residence there.

Sawadi isn't nan first salient societal media fig to beryllium gunned down successful cardinal Baghdad. Last year, Noor Alsaffar aliases "Noor BM," a transgender personification pinch a ample societal media following, was besides fatally changeable successful nan city.

A neighbour of Sawadi who identified himself only by his nickname, Abu Adam aliases "father of Adam," said he came retired to nan thoroughfare aft proceeding 2 shots fired and saw "the car's doorway unfastened and she was lying connected nan steering wheel."

"The female who was pinch her (in nan car) escaped, and information forces came and sealed disconnected nan full area, and they took nan victim's assemblage and towed her car," he said.

Iraqi TikTok personage Om Fahed is pictured astatine nan Basra International Stadium during a lucifer of nan Arabian Gulf Cup shot tourney connected January 19, 2023. HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP via Getty Images

In Iraq, nan domiciled of societal media influencers has broadened from promoting beauty products and clothing to authorities projects and programs. Official authorities invitations categorize these influencers arsenic cardinal business figures astatine sports, information and taste gatherings.

Videos featuring a salient influencer during nan 93rd day connected Thursday of nan Iraqi aerial force's founding sparked a backlash, pinch galore criticizing nan Ministry of Defense for allowing them to grounds and people videos from delicate subject sites. The ministry defended itself, saying that successful nan era of societal media, for illustration defense ministries worldwide, it uses influencers alongside accepted media to pass pinch nan public.

Last year, an Iraqi tribunal sentenced Sawadi to six months successful situation for posting respective films and videos containing obscene statements and indecent nationalist behaviour connected societal media arsenic portion of a caller push by nan Iraqi authorities to constabulary morals.

Separately connected Saturday, nan Iraqi parliament passed an amendment to nan country's adultery rule — wide criticized by quality authorities groups — that would punish same-sex relations pinch a situation word ranging from 10 to 15 years. A erstwhile type of nan rule would person imposed nan decease penalty.

The rule besides bans immoderate statement that promotes "sexual deviancy," imposing a condemnation of astatine slightest 7 years and a good of nary little than 10 cardinal dinars (about $7,600).

In:
• Baghdad
• Iraq
• Social Media
• Politics
• Middle East
• Crime