A man, who was in the car with twenty-two-year-old Iraqi model and social media star Tara Fares, murdered in Baghdad, has been detained as a source in the country's Interior Ministry has told Sputnik. The woman was shot three times, including twice in the head, by an unknown, who approached her vehicle on a motorbike.
The message about her death, describing her murder as “treacherous and cowardly act,” was posted on her Instagram page, which has an impressive following of 2.7 million people. Just days before the shooting, Fares, who often posted pictures considered inappropriate in the conservative Islamic society, was voted one of Iraq's most influential social media personalities.
Tara Fares was crowned Miss Baghdad in 2014 and competed for the Miss Iraq title. After living for some time in Europe, she returned to Iraq. Apart from social media activity, she represented some brands and occasionally worked in show business. According to The New Arab, a UK-based Arab community website, she spent much of her time in the more liberal Kurdistan region, but reportedly had begun to visit the capital more often recently.
The police are investigating her murder, searching for the assassins. According to the outlet Kurdistan 24, she became the third woman somehow connected to the beauty industry, to die in Baghdad in the last several months. In August, two owners of beauty centers died under reportedly suspicious circumstances in their homes. Additionally, just a few days ago, women's right activist Soad al-Ali was also shot dead in her car in Basra.
READ MORE: Miss Iraq Forced to Flee Homeland After Selfie With Miss Israel (PHOTO)
