In September 2023, Iraqi social media personality Noor Alsaffar, known as Noor BM, (b. 2000),[1] was shot three times by a gunman in the Mansour district of Baghdad, killing him.[2][3][4][5]
| Date | September 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location | Mansour district, Baghdad, Iraq |
| Motive | Suspected LGBTQ+ hate crime |
| Deaths | 1 |
As of April 2024, no one had been charged for the murder and the crime is "under investigation".[6]
Background
editIn 2020, during an interview with the Alwalaa channel, Alsaffar described himself as a cross-dresser, stating that: "I’m not transgender and I’m not gay. I don’t have other tendencies, I’m only a cross-dresser and a model." This led to online abuse.[7] At the time of his murder in 2023, Alsaffar had over 370,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, which were mostly used to post beauty and Get Ready With Me content.[8]
Killing
editAlsaffar's killing took place during the day, and was recorded on neighbouring CCTV.[9]
Reactions
editIraQueer, an Iraqi LGBTQ+ rights group, condemned the killing of "the queer Iraqi vlogger Nour BM".[7] Remembering Our Dead, a website supporting Trans Day of Remembrance, described Alsaffar as "gender-nonconforming", but stated that how Alsaffar viewed their gender at the time of their death is not known.[10]
The shooting is one of several targeted attacks on social media personalities in Iraq, some of whom were identified as members of LGBTQ+ communities.[11] It is part of a wider increase in homophobia and transphobia in Iraq, which includes the burning of the rainbow flag,[8] a ban on media organisations in using the term 'homosexuality' - stipulating that 'sexual deviance' should be used instead,[12] the criminalisation of same-sex relationships,[13] and the deliberate digital targeting of LGBTQ+ people.[14][15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Iraq: transgender influencer "Noor BM" murdered in Baghdad, investigation opened". Agenzia Nova. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Infamous blogger "Noor BM" assassinated in Baghdad". Shafaq News. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Iraqi social media influencer Um Fahad shot dead by motorbike gunman in Baghdad". CBS News. 27 April 2024. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Iraqi Authorities Investigate Killing of TikTok Star". Time Magazine. 27 April 2024. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Popular Iraqi female TikTok star shot dead in Baghdad night attack". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ James, Alastair (28 September 2023). "Death of Iraqi TikTok star under investigation, police confirm". Attitude. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b Morey, Alice (29 September 2023). "Popular Iraqi TikToker allegedly shot dead in Baghdad". Gay Times. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ a b Ebrahim, Nadeen; Mando, Nechirvan (27 September 2023). "Prominent Iraqi TikToker fatally shot in Baghdad amid crackdown on LGBTQ community". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Iraq, Dana Taib Menmy ــ (6 October 2023). "Mystery lingers over murder of Iraqi blogger in Baghdad". New Arab. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Remembering Our Dead - Noor Alsaffar ("Noor BM") (25 Sep 2023)". Remembering Our Dead. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Fox, Tessa. "LGBTQ people in Iraq face violence by police, armed groups". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Iraq bans media from using term 'homosexuality,' says they must use 'sexual deviance'". CNN. 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Iraq criminalises same-sex relationships with maximum 15 years in prison". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Younes, Rasha (21 February 2023). ""All This Terror Because of a Photo"". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Middle East, North Africa: Digital Targeting of LGBT People | Human Rights Watch". 21 February 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2024.