“I’M not afraid of the one who denies the
existence of God, but I’m really afraid of the one who kills and chops
off heads to prove the existence of God.”
That’s
what Tara Fares wrote on Instagram to her 2.8 million followers in
July. Two months later she was murdered in a brazen, daylight attack.
The model known for her risque posts was shot several times by a man who leaned in to the window of her white Porsche as she drove through Baghdad last week.
Her death is the latest in a string of attacks on popular women and activists who dare to speak up for change in Muslim-majority Iraq.
It follows the death of a woman known as “Iraq’s Barbie”, plastic
surgeon Dr Rafeef al-Yassiri, who many believe was poisoned over her
work offering cosmetic surgery victims of war.The model known for her risque posts was shot several times by a man who leaned in to the window of her white Porsche as she drove through Baghdad last week.
Her death is the latest in a string of attacks on popular women and activists who dare to speak up for change in Muslim-majority Iraq.
Soad al-Ali, another prominent female activist, was gunned down in the southern Iraqi city of Basra in what police described as a “purely personal” attack.
Nishita Jha (BUZZFEED) notes:
“All women entering public life are targets,” Hanaa Edwar, a women’s rights activist based in Baghdad, told BuzzFeed News. “Fares had more than 2 million followers. All of the women killed were courageous, ambitious women with strong personalities.”
As a consequence, Edwar said, many Iraqi women are withdrawing from public life.
“We have seen so many businesswomen in Basra stop their activities; young women in media have gone into hiding; women are deactivating or changing their social media profiles. Some of them have changed homes, are living low-key and under the radar. These killings are spreading fear and terrifying young women and feminists.”
The latest twist for Iraqi women: the former Miss Iraq receives a text message saying “you’ll be next”. Four are already dead. An effort to remove women from the public space. Terrifying.
#Yanar_Mohammed interviewed by the German DW about the killings of women in Iraq while in the airport - leaving for safety. This is not about a conservative society, it is about a misogynist Islamic militia rule supported by Iran.
The following community sites -- plus Jody Watley -- updated:
Cat Power coverage
9 hours ago
Easy Taco Casserole in the Kitchen
9 hours ago
An Audience Is Bored
14 hours ago
