According to reports from local media, Iraqi social media influencer Om Fahad was fatally shot outside her residence in Baghdad, with the incident occurring in the Zayne neighborhood on Friday.
Iraq’s interior ministry announced that a “woman recognised on social media platforms” had died as a result of an attack by “unknown perpetrators.” A dedicated team of investigators has been assigned to look into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Fahad, whose true name is Ghufran Sawadi, was allegedly shot by a motorcyclist while she was in her car. According to reports, the attacker pretended to be a meal delivery person.
According to the US-owned Al Hurra news outlet, another woman was also hurt in the incident.
Fahad rose to fame on TikTok by sharing videos of herself dancing to hit songs while dressing formfittingly, and she did so by gaining a sizable fan base.
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Her sharing of recordings that the court determined to be offensive to “modesty and public morality” resulted in a six-month prison sentence last year. She had previously faced legal consequences. This happened when a government committee was formed with the responsibility of keeping an eye on social media postings and punishing violators.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor expressed disapproval of social media content providers’ imprisonment and conviction on ambiguous charges.
Tensions have recently risen between Fahad and fellow influencer Dalia Naeem, who is also referred to as “Iraqi Barbie” because of her numerous plastic surgery procedures. According to media sources, Naeem had been making threats to expose Fahad’s purported association with senior Iraqi officials.