Popular Iraqi social media figure Ghufran Sawadi, widely known as Umm Fahad, met a tragic end when she was shot dead outside her residence in Baghdad on Friday, April 26, 2024 night, according to reports from the Baghdad police.
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The fatal incident occurred in the Zayouna neighborhood located in eastern Baghdad and was captured on surveillance footage, which circulated widely on social media.
The footage depicts a gunman riding a motorcycle who approached and fatally shot Sawadi. A Baghdad police source confirmed the authenticity of the video to CNN.
In response to the heinous act, the country’s Interior Minister announced the formation of a specialized team to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sawadi’s killing, carried out by unidentified assailants.
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Sawadi had garnered significant popularity on TikTok, where she shared videos showcasing her dance performances set to popular music, often dressed in fashionable attire.
However, her content had faced criticism from Iraq’s judiciary in the past. She was sentenced to six months in prison for violating public decency and morals by producing and publishing videos containing obscene and indecent language, according to a statement from the Iraqi judiciary.
This tragic incident echoes previous attacks on Iraqi social media personalities. In September 2023, Noor Alsaffar, another prominent TikTok figure known as Noor BM, was also fatally shot in Baghdad.
Alsaffar, who had amassed over 370,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, primarily shared content related to fashion, hair, and makeup, including dance performances.
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