Qandeel Baloch, Pakistani Social Media Star, Was Killed by Her Own Brother
- by Virginia Carter
- in World Media
- — Jul 19, 2016
Qandeel Baloch created uproar in the Muslim community when she posted pictures of her with a prominent Muslim cleric, People said. Qandeel Baloch, whose real name is Fauzia Azeem may have been a little loud and bold with her social media activity but her intentions were good. Even though her sudden death was shocking but what will make you cringe in disgust is how he described Qandeel's murder.
Qandeel Baloch was gruesomely strangled to death by her brother.
Initially dismissed as a Kim Kardashian-like figure, she was seen by some as empowered in a country where women have fought for their rights for decades. "He escaped after strangling Qandeel".
While he was being quizzed by cops as to why he would've committed such an atrocity, The Dawn claims he pointed to a picture she took with the cleric, Mufti Abdul Qavi. Qandeel's videos making rounds on social media could not be tolerated, hence I myself chose to kill her. He said he drugged her and then strangled her, adding he did not regret his action. He confessed to the murder and stated that he had killed her for "honour".
"I was determined either to kill myself or kill her", Azeem told The Associated Press as he was being led away. Davi was subsequently suspended from a religious committee that determines the end of Ramadan, and Baloch became the object of death threats and public outrage. The killings are usually carried out by members of a victim's family in retribution for "besmirching" the family's honor.
Her killing "defines yet another setback for the women of our generation".
Baloch's murder is one of thousands of honor killings committed each year.
"As per our initial investigation "honour" is the motive of murder", said Azhar Ikram, the police chief in Multan, where Baloch was killed.
