In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves through the online community, Iraqi TikTok star Om Fahad, whose real name is Ghufran Sawadi, was shot dead outside her home in the Zayouna district of eastern Baghdad. The attack, captured on surveillance camera footage, shows a lone assailant wearing dark clothing and a helmet approaching a black SUV before shooting Om Fahad, who was seated inside.
Om Fahad, known to hundreds of thousands of followers for her dance videos set to popular music, had faced legal troubles in the past. In February 2023, she was sentenced to six months in prison by a court that deemed her videos to contain “indecent speech that undermines modesty and public morality.” Alongside her, five other content creators also received prison terms ranging up to two years, and investigations were initiated against others.
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has established a team to investigate the circumstances surrounding Om Fahad’s killing. This tragic incident follows a series of similar attacks on Iraqi influencers, highlighting the growing crackdown on online freedoms in the country. Notably, Noor Alsaffar, a 23-year-old TikToker, was shot dead in September 2023, and Tara Fares, a 22-year-old model and influencer, was fatally shot by gunmen in 2018. Additionally, Iraq has witnessed several “honour killings,” including the case of Tiba al-Ali, a 22-year-old YouTube star who was strangled by her father in January.
The Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor had previously expressed concerns about the Iraqi government’s campaign to restrict public freedoms, warning that it could lead to the criminalization of criticism against officials or state institutions and the unjust trial of political activists. The organization’s report from last year found no grounds for indictment against Om Fahad, stating that her content did not exceed the limits of her rights to freedom of opinion, expression, or publication.
