Iraqi social media influencer Om Fahad fatally shot in Baghdad

NEW DELHI: A prominent Iraqi social media influencer, Om Fahad, was killed outside her Baghdad residence on Friday, according to Iraqi security officials speaking to AFP.
Reports indicate that a gunman riding a motorbike targeted Om Fahad while she was in her car in the Zayouna district. The assailant, whose identity remains unknown, allegedly approached under the guise of a food delivery before carrying out the attack.
Om Fahad gained popularity on platforms like TikTok for her lighthearted videos featuring Iraqi music and her dancing, often dressed in form-fitting attire.However, her content stirred controversy, leading to a six-month jail sentence in February 2023 for sharing videos deemed to contain indecent speech that challenged modesty and public morality.
The Iraqi government has been actively working to regulate social media content that it perceives as conflicting with Iraqi values. This includes monitoring platforms like TikTok and YouTube, resulting in the arrest of several influencers.
Despite enduring years of war and sectarian strife following the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Iraq has made strides towards a semblance of stability. However, civil liberties, particularly for women, sexual minorities, and other marginalized groups, continue to be restricted in the conservative society.