A former Miss Iraq claims she has received death threats, telling her 'you're next', just days after the murder of an Instagram model in Baghdad.
Shimaa Qassem shared an emotional video with her 2.7million Instagram followers in which she claimed successful women in Iraq faced 'being slaughtered like chickens'.
Last Thursday, 22-year-old 'influencer' Tara Fares, whom Ms Qassem hailed as a'martyr', was shot dead in her car in Baghdad.
Progressive Iraqis say they fear for their safety following the deaths of Ms Fares and three other female entrepreneurs under mysterious circumstances in the space of a few weeks.
Shimaa Qassem said successful women in Iraq faced 'being slaughtered like chickens' after the murder of Tara Fares, whom Ms Qassem hailed as a 'martyr'
The deaths of Instagram model Tara Fares, pictured, and three other successful women have sparked fear among those who dare to break the mould in the conservative country
Ms Fares' bloody demise at the wheel of a white Porsche convertible in Baghdad on Thursday has sparked as much debate as her racy photos.
Fares had built an Instagram following of 2.7 million people thanks to edgy fashion shoots, assertive missives and eyecatching, colourful hairstyles.
She also posted publicly about a violent ex-husband and a fiance who died after being attacked in Istanbul.
But while Fares' fearless embrace of social media inspired many young Iraqis, it upset traditionalists.
The 22-year-old social media influencer and model was shot dead in her car in Baghdad on Thursday morning
Tara Fares (pictured) murder comes just days after that of Soad al-Ali, an Iraqi human rights activist who was also shot in her car in the southern city of Basra
Fares was the target of a deluge of online insults over her perceived lack of modesty, in a society where many adhere to hardline interpretations of Islam
Fares was the target of a deluge of online insults over her perceived lack of modesty, in a society where many adhere to hardline interpretations of Islam.
It was this darker side of online platforms that forced the outspoken Fares to quit living in her native Baghdad and spend much of her time in comparatively liberal, secular Iraqi Kurdistan.
Fares is not the only Iraqi fashion and beauty entrepreneur to have met her death in recent weeks.
In August, the managers of Baghdad's two most high profile aesthetic and plastic surgery centres died in mysterious circumstances.
The first was Rafif al-Yasiri, a plastic surgeon who had become known as the Barbie of Iraq'.
She ran successful plastic surgery clinic in Baghdad and become known to the wider public as a TV doctor. The 32-year-old was also an activist and charity ambassador.
A week later Rasha al-Hassan, founder of the Viola Beauty Centre, was also found dead.
First death: TV doctor and plastic surgeon Dr Rafif Al-Yasiri died in August under mysterious circumstances
Mystery: The 32-year-old was found dead in her home on August 16
Second death: Beauty expert Rasha al-Hassan was also found dead in her home
Ms al-Hassan, who ran a successful beauty clinic, died a week after Dr Al-Yasiri
Third death: Activist and businesswoman Soad al-Ali was shot several times while travelling in a car in the southern city of Basra last Tuesday
Both were found at their homes, and despite ongoing investigations, the causes of their deaths remain undetermined.
But the rumour mill has churned up plenty of theories: drugs, heart attacks and murder.
Last Tuesday, two days before Fares was shot dead, came the first officially confirmed murder among the spate of suspicious deaths.
In circumstances that foreshadowed the social media star's assassination, activist and businesswoman Soad al-Ali was shot several times while travelling in a car in the southern city of Basra.
Police opened an investigation and pointed the finger at her ex-husband, who is on the run.
While motivations for the two confirmed murders are far from officially established, women's rights group Amal is deeply concerned.
'Armed groups, tribes, criminal gangs... all these control positions' within the state and security forces, Hanae Edwar told AFP at the NGO's Baghdad office.
The recent assassinations are 'threatening messages sent to activists in particular, but also to the whole of society,' she said.
'Attacking women who are public figures is a bid to force them to shut themselves away at home', Edwar added.
The authorities have tried to distance themselves from the deaths and provide reassurance.
Ms Fares' bloody demise at the wheel of a white Porsche convertible in Baghdad on Thursday has sparked as much debate as her racy photos
Tara Fares, 22, who had almost three million followers on the social media site, was killed by unknown gunmen in the city's Kam Sara neighbourhood
But Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi appeared to draw a link between the events in Baghdad and Basra, ordering elite intelligence units to investigate.
In a statement, Abadi cited 'evidence suggesting that there is a plan formulated by organised parties to undermine security under the pretext of fighting against depravity'.
Safaa Nasser, a stylist speaking under an assumed name who until recently organised fashion shows, said she had already changed her behaviour.
'The last few days, my daughters and I go out less and I stay away from the fashion world,' she said.
'There are people who don't want Iraq to develop, or for women to be visible. They want to take us backwards.'
She urged security forces to investigate the deaths, saying an 'organised network' was behind the 'premeditated' actions.
'The women I know are saying that their turn will come' to be targeted,' she said.
Chillingly, Fares, Yassiri and Hassan all died on Thursdays.
'Every time, this repeats itself', said 29-year-old Hawa Walid, shopping in Baghdad.
'Now, every Thursday, the stress rises.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/10/01/deaths-of-four-successful-iraqi-women-spark-fear-hardline-muslim-men-are-targeting-progressive-girls/
Main photo article A former Miss Iraq claims she has received death threats, telling her ‘you’re next’, just days after the murder of an Instagram model in Baghdad.
Shimaa Qassem shared an emotional video with her 2.7million Instagram followers in which she claimed successful women in Iraq faced...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/10/01/15/4670500-6226933-image-m-84_1538405753871.jpg
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