New reports are sharing the details of 29-year-old Sania Khan’s murder. According to The New York Post, the up-and-coming TikToker was allegedly killed by her ex-husband, 36-year-old Raheel Ahmad.
Over the years, Sania was able to make a name for herself in the world of social media as a highly respected and sought-after photographer. However, while she mostly used social media to highlight her professional work, she also used it to bring awareness to the cultural differences South Asian women face, especially when it comes to failing marriages.
TikToker Murdered By Ex-Husband After Discussing Their Marriage Issues Online
“Going through a divorce as a Southasian woman feels like you failed at life sometimes,” Sania once wrote. “The way the community labels you, the lack of emotional support you receive, and the pressure to stay with someone because ‘what will people say’ is isolating. It makes it harder for women to leave marriages that they shouldn’t have been in to begin with.”
According to The Chicago Sun-Times, Sania and Raheel were married for less than a year before divorcing in May 2022. After splitting, Khan moved into a condo in Chicago, while Raheel resided in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Reports suggest Raheel traveled from Georgia to Chicago to claim Sonia’s live before taking his own. Police were called to Sania’s condo after Raheel’s family reported him missing and expressed concern for his welfare, The Post reported.
After police knocked on Sania’s door, they heard a single gunshot and a groan. Upon entering the home, they discovered Sania dead and Raheel, still alive, but suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He later died from his injuries.
According to police, they found the 9mm Glock handgun in Raheel’s hand and a suicide note nearby. Authorities have since labeled the tragedy as a murder-suicide.
Sania was raised in Tennessee and planned to move back to the state where she grew up. While still chasing her dreams as a photographer, Sania was once a social worker and a flight attendant.
Sadly, as recent TikTok posts revealed it appears Sania didn’t have her own family’s support either. “You think you can hurt me? My family members told me if I left my husband I would be letting Shaytan ‘win,’ that I dress like a prostitute and if I move back to my hometown they’ll kill themselves.”
On TikTok, Sania often talked about how toxic Raheel was. She once wrote, “Finally had your dream Southasian wedding but ended up marrying just another toxic Southasian man.”
Those close to Sania told Time magazine that Raheel was “controlling.” Gabriella Bordo told Time that Raheel “monitored what she wore. He was wary about who she hung out with, how she presented herself.”
“There was no reconciling. This man did not go there to salvage a marriage. He went there with a gun for a reason.”
Another friend to The Chicago Sun-Times that “she could make a friend out of anyone and would always be there for them during their moments. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who would say something bad about Sania because just knowing Sania added so much light to your life.”
The Post says Sania considered getting a restraining order against Raheel but never did.