The death of a young YouTube star at the hands of her father has sparked outrage in Iraq, showing that so-called "honour" killings continue in the country.
Tiba al-Ali, 22, was killed by her father on January 31 in the southern province of Diwaniyah, Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan said on Twitter on Friday.
The young woman had traveled to Turkey with her family in 2017, but refused to return home with them and stayed in the country, where she has lived until now, police said. Her father was not happy with her decision to live alone abroad.
Ali had gained a following on YouTube, where she posted videos of her daily life and often featured her fiancé. Meanwhile, a police source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity confirmed that the "dispute" dates back several years. The police tried to mediate between Ali, who was visiting Iraq, and her relatives to "resolve the family dispute definitively."
His murder has sparked an uproar among Iraqis on social media, who have called protests in Baghdad on Sunday to demand justice in response to his death.
“Women in our societies are held hostage to outdated customs due to the absence of legal deterrents and government measures, which currently do not match the size of domestic violence crimes,” veteran politician Ala Talabani wrote on Twitter.
Human rights activist Hanaa Edwar told AFP that according to voice recordings attributed to Ali, she "left her family... because her brother sexually assaulted her." The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights also reported on the allegation.
Amnesty International condemned the "appalling" murder, saying that "the Iraqi penal code still treats leniently with so-called 'honour killings' which comprise violent acts such as assault and even murder."
Its deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Aya Majzoub, said: "Until the Iraqi authorities adopt strong legislation to protect women and girls... we will inevitably continue to witness horrific killings."
