It is a fact that in Iraq, cases of online “sextortion” of women have increased, both by malicious hackers and by ex-partners who knowingly sent them photos. Something like a practice of pornographic revenge.
One example is Hala from Iraq, who one night received a message on Instagram saying that they had all her photos and videos and were threatening to send them to her father. The hackers had also infiltrated her Facebook and Snapchat accounts.
Some of the attackers want money, some want sexual intercourse even over the phone, and some others simply want to scare their victims for no reason.
But the consequences in an environment as conservative as Iraq can be devastating. At best, it is “an indelible mark of shame” for a family, but at worst, a death sentence for the victims.
Last year, Iraqi model and Instagram star Tara Fares was murdered in Baghdad because many Iraqis disagreed with her liberal lifestyle.
Victims, activists, and lawyers believe that these behaviors exist because of conservative society, social media, poor digital security among victims, and weak laws.
And of course, in a country without sex education in school, girls participate in secret women's forums to discuss their bodies or ask for advice.
Couples and groups often exchange friendly photos, which for a woman in Iraq can simply be a photo without a headscarf and even that is considered shameful.
Indeed, sexual bullying is increasing because there is no deterrent, said lawyer Marwa Abdulridha.
She said that it is considered taboo for an Iraqi woman to go to the police and that victims fear that extortionists could still be protected by the state's laws.
Finally, even if a woman takes her case to court, the judges will side with the "man" and judge the matter as some other type of misconduct, such as fraud.
