Iraqi influencer shot dead in Baghdad, probe underway.
Popular Iraqi social media star Ghufran Sawadi, known by her stage name Om Fahad, was shot dead outside her home in Baghdad on Friday by unidentified assailants on a motorbike.
The interior ministry confirmed the incident in its statement, noting a woman famous on digital platforms was killed. A dedicated team has been formed to look into the circumstances of the death.
Local reports suggest the attacker, pretending to deliver food, fired at her vehicle in the Zayne locality of the capital. Another woman reportedly sustained injuries in the attack as well.
Fahad enjoyed a sizable following on TikTok for her dance videos in figure-hugging attire, though last year, she was jailed for six months over content deemed against public morality.
This followed the formation of a committee to monitor social platforms and penalize inappropriate content sharing. Rights groups had termed her conviction on vague charges concerning.
A Recent escalating feud with fellow influencer Dalia Naeem, where threats were made to expose Fahad’s alleged ties with officials, is also being probed for possible clues in the fatal shooting case.
As authorities step up the probe into the killing that has triggered outrage, ensuring women’s safety remains a pressing challenge in Iraqi society.
