Just a few hours passed for the Iraqis that felt like years after news circulated about the death of a small girl in Najaf, amidst conflicting accounts about the reasons, igniting a fire of anger. While her family claimed that stray dogs attacked and tore apart the innocent girl, forensic examinations revealed the more horrific truth: the Najaf girl was raped and then killed by her mother's brother. It was reported that the accused killed his niece to cover up his crime.
Social media circulated images of the girl along with details of the incident, with comments indicating that the killer mercilessly mutilated the child's body with knives. Some confirmed that the family tried to conceal the crime and later clashed with the forensic department after the truth was revealed, additionally preventing the media from taking photographs.
Following the media exposure of the gruesome crime that claimed the life of the girl Shahd, Iraqi society erupted in outrage, demanding the harshest penalties for the perpetrator if convicted, to serve as a warning to others. The hashtag "#JusticeForNajafGirl" spread across social media and became a trend among Iraqis.
In response to this outrage, local police opened an investigation into the incident, affirming that they would announce the findings as soon as possible, emphasizing the importance of not disseminating any details to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the investigation.
It is noteworthy that Iraq has witnessed dangerous transformations in crime statistics since the beginning of this year, with horrific crimes even within single families. This rapid increase in crime figures reflects the security, economic, and social conditions created by the political and economic situation in the country. Additionally, this state has led to moral and psychological shifts that threaten the cohesion and unity of Iraqi society, according to social specialists.
