Iraqi TikTok star Umm Fahad shot dead outside home amid controversy over dancing videos

Iraqi social media sensation Ghufran Sawadi, known as Umm Fahad, met a tragic end as she was shot dead outside her residence in Baghdad on Friday (Apr 26) night, media reports said citing sources. 

Sawadi gained popularity on TikTok, where she shared videos showcasing her dancing skills to popular music. In those videos, she was often seen wearing figure-hugging attire. Iraq's judiciary earlier sentenced her to a six-month prison sentence for violating public decency and morals.

Iraq has laws and regulations that prohibit the dissemination of content deemed to contain obscene or indecent language, particularly those that violate public decency and morals.

These laws are often enforced by government authorities and can result in legal action against individuals or organisations that produce or distribute such content.

The attack took place in the Zayouna area of eastern Baghdad and was captured on surveillance video. The footage of the horrific crime was circulated on social media platforms as well.

The footage depicted a gunman riding a motorcycle fatally shooting Sawadi on the spot. Confirmation of the video's authenticity was provided by a Baghdad police source to a western media outlet.

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After this incident, the Interior Minister announced the formation of a specialised team to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sawadi's killing.

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This tragic incident is not an isolated case, as other social media influencers in Iraq have also fallen victim to deadly attacks.

Notably, another social media star, Noor Alsaffar, known as Noor BM, was fatally shot in Baghdad in September 2023. Alsaffar, with a substantial following on Instagram and TikTok, shared content primarily focused on fashion and dancing.

While many mourned Alsaffar's death, some disturbingly celebrated the perpetrator of the crime. Given the conservative cultural and religious values prevalent in Iraqi society, there is often a low tolerance for content that is seen as offensive or contrary to these values. This includes not only explicit language but also material that may be considered morally objectionable or contrary to Islamic principles.