Iraqi Influencer Om Fahad, Ghufran Sawadi, Shot Dead in Baghdad
Popular Iraqi influencer Ghufran Sawadi, also known as Om Fahad, was tragically shot dead by unknown assailants while sitting in her car outside her home in Baghdad. Sawadi, who had a large following on TikTok, was known for sharing videos of her daily routines, dancing to pop music, and posing in elegant attire.
The driver of the motorbike who shot Sawadi was reportedly pretending to make a food delivery in the eastern part of Baghdad. Sawadi had previously faced legal trouble, as she was sentenced to six months in prison for videos that were deemed to contain indecent speech by an Iraqi court. The Iraqi government had also launched a campaign against social media content considered offensive to morals and traditions.
The Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor released a statement asserting that Sawadi’s content did not violate her rights to freedom of opinion, expression, and publication. This tragic incident is not an isolated one, as other female influencers in Iraq, including Noor Alsaffar and Tara Fares, have also been targeted and killed in recent years.
Reports suggest that there was escalating tension between Sawadi and fellow influencer Dalia Naeem, who allegedly threatened to expose Sawadi’s relationship with senior Iraqi officials. Despite the controversy surrounding her, Sawadi received messages of condolence and prayers from her followers on social media following her untimely death.
Sawadi’s apparent backup account on TikTok had over 33,000 followers, and one of her videos had garnered over 1 million views. The tragic loss of this young influencer has once again shed light on the dangers faced by those who dare to express themselves openly on social media platforms in Iraq.
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