Iraqi TikToker, jailed earlier for controversial videos, shot dead in Baghdad

Ghufran Sawadi, a popular social media star in Iraq, was shot dead by an unknown person outside her house in Baghdad on Friday, CNN reported. The star was better known as Umm Fahad.

The incident, which took place in the Zayouna area east of Baghdad, was also captured on a nearby CCTV camera and was shared on social media.

The video showed a man on a bike approaching a locality. Moments later, he parks his bike and runs towards a car, fires shots and escapes the spot.

India Today could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.

Investigations into the case were underway and the accused was yet to be identified.

According to the report, Sawadi was earlier sentenced to six months in prison after some of her social media videos were deemed “obscene and indecent, violating public decency and morals,” the report quoted an Iraqi judiciary statement.

However, the controversial star continued to share videos of herself dancing to pop music in form-fitting clothes.

Earlier in September 2023, another popular Iraqi TikTok personality, Noor Alsaffar, known as Noor BM, was shot dead in Baghdad.

Alsaffar was also popular for posting short videos about fashion, hair, and makeup. She also often danced in some of her videos.