Iraqi TikTok star Om Fahad shot dead outside Baghdad home
Ghufran Mahdi Sawadi, better known as Om Fahad, a celebrated TikTok personality from Iraq, was brutally murdered outside her home in the Zoyouna district of eastern Baghdad on Saturday. The late-night attack was captured on surveillance cameras showing an unidentified attacker approaching and shooting her. The assailant, disguised as a food delivery person and clad in dark clothing and a helmet, arrived on a motorbike before opening fire on Fahad who was seated inside a black SUV, reported AFP.
The perpetrator took Fahad's mobile phone and fled the scene
After the shooting, the perpetrator swiftly took Fahad's mobile phone and fled the scene. There are ongoing speculations that Iranian militias of the Hashd Al Shaabi (PMF) may have targeted Fahad, but these allegations are currently under investigation by Iraqi officials. Fahad was a beloved figure on TikTok and had amassed nearly half a million followers; she was known for her videos featuring pop music dances which quickly went viral.
Fahad's assassination happened in same Baghdad as Hisham al-Hashimi
It's worth noting that Fahad's killing took place in the same Baghdad neighborhood where Hisham al-Hashimi, a noted security specialist and Iraqi researcher, was fatally shot in 2020, as reported by the Associated Press. The area, once known for its distinction and home to military officials before the US invasion in 2003, has seen an influx of militia leaders in recent years. In 2018, the model and influencer Tara Fares was also shot dead in Baghdad.
Fahad had previously been sentenced to six months in prison
Despite her popularity, Fahad's content had previously been criticized by Iraqi officials. In February 2023, she was sentenced to six months in prison after a court ruled that her videos contained "indecent speech that undermines modesty and public morality." This verdict came as part of a campaign initiated by the Iraqi Interior Ministry in January 2023 to regulate social media content it deemed violated Iraqi "morals and traditions."
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor defended Fahad
Despite the Iraqi government's crackdown, the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor previously defended the social media influencer. The organization stated it found no basis for indictment of Fahad and that her content didn't exceed the boundaries of her "rights to freedom of opinion, expression or publication." The ministry had also established an online platform for users to report content they considered offensive or inappropriate.
Challenges in Iraq: Limited civil liberties
Despite enduring years of war and sectarian conflict following the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Iraq has made strides toward stability. However, civil liberties, particularly for women, sexual minorities, and other marginalized groups, continue to be limited in the conservative society.
