"Shameful" Father Commits 'Honor Killing' of Daughter in Iraq

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eunha] Al-Ali (22), an Iraqi YouTuber, was reportedly killed by his father for living alone away from his family, according to British newspapers The Guardian and Daily Mail on the 3rd (local time). Al-Ali died on the 31st of last month in Diwaniya, southern Iraq, at the hands of his father.

In 2017, Al-Ali traveled to Turkey with his family but did not return to Iraq and instead settled alone in Turkey. Since then, he uploaded his daily life on YouTube, gaining over 10,000 subscribers.

Al-Ali, who was about to marry a Syrian girlfriend, returned to Iraq to support his national team participating in the 'Arabian Gulf Cup' held last month, where he met his tragic fate.

Upon learning of Al-Ali's return, his family kidnapped him and took him to their family home in Diwaniya. His father, enraged by the fact that his daughter lived alone abroad, killed him while Al-Ali was asleep.

Al-Ali's father confessed to the police, stating, "I killed my daughter to wash away the shame."

Voices condemning honor killings, a harmful custom rooted in Islamic societies, erupted following Al-Ali's death. Iraqi politician Ala Talabani criticized on Twitter, "Due to the lack of legal sanctions and government measures, women in our society have become hostages to backward customs."

Iraqi women's rights activist Hana Edward claimed that the reason Al-Ali left Iraq was because she was sexually assaulted by her brother. The truth of this claim has not been confirmed.