HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- A Hollywood mother burned her teenage daughter with a hot knife to punish her for talking to a boy she met online, an act that defied her parents' wishes for her to marry a cousin, according to authorities.
The 17-year-old showed detectives three burn marks on her arms, saying they were placed there in act of ''honor violence'' by her mother for betraying the family's culture and religion, according to a police report.
The mother, Sahar Thabit, 35, born in Yemen, was arrested Friday and is facing three counts of child abuse after the family learned about the Internet friendship, police said.
Victim advocates say that "honor violence," in which a woman is victimized for having shamed or violated cultural or religious norms, particularly those of Middle Eastern countries, is gaining attention in the United States as more Middle Eastern families move here and young women immerse themselves in Western culture.
School officials were alerted to the burns by the teenager's classmate, who told them the parents became enraged because the girl, who the Sun Sentinel is not naming, was supposed to have been in an arranged marriage with a cousin.
Hollywood Police said the girl was burned in the first or second week of January. A school vice principal contacted police on Jan. 13. The school's name was redacted from the police report.
The teen told detectives that her mother put a knife on a stove and heated the metal. She then placed the knife on the girl's arms, police said. She was burned twice on her left forearm and once on her upper right arm, police said. The girl told authorities both her parents knew of the incident.
The girl's father, who was not identified, initially told police that the girl accidentally burned herself on the stove, according to the report. When a detective noted there were three similar burns, the father reportedly asked to speak to a lawyer.
Police did not interview the mother because she speaks only Arabic, Detective Chris Christianson wrote in his report. A man who answered the phone at the family's West Hollywood house Monday said only that "everything is fine" and declined to comment further without a lawyer.
The girl's friend told police that the teen had tried to commit suicide over the incident. The teen is reportedly now living with family friends, but details were not immediately available.
Somy Ali, who runs South Florida-based No More Tears, said she met with the teenager about a month ago in hopes of helping her. Her group helps immigrants brought to the United States through arranged marriages and often are victims of domestic or honor violence.
Ali said she lost contact with the girl after their initial consultation.
"When I spoke to her, she was terrified and tried to insist her parents didn't do it," Ali said Monday. "She opened up a little, but then became reluctant because she thought I was working with the detectives."
Ali, who said she was disowned by her father at a young age, said some of the victims she has helped over the years include women from different religions and countries, mostly from the Middle East.
"It is a very image-based culture and you are seen as dishonoring the family for things like having premarital sex or having a boyfriend," Ali said. "Oftentimes it's the brother who goes as far as killing the woman to save face on behalf of the family."
The police report did not identify the family's religion. Lenore Walker, a Nova Southeastern psychology professor and domestic violence expert, said honor violence is not specific to any one religion, and described it mostly as a cultural issue.
"I think there is a sense that it is occurring more in the United States because we are recognizing it more," she said. "It's a horrible, horrible form of domestic violence where a person who is supposed to love you is harming you."
Experts such as Walker and Ali said victims should seek help from a network within the community such as No More Tears, which can be reached at 954-324-7669.
Thabit was released from jail Saturday after posting a $22,500 bond and was ordered to have no contact with her daughter, jail records show.
Staff Researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.
[email protected]; 954-356-4605
Honor violence and killings
Experts say incidents of honor violence or honor killings have gained attention in the United States as more Middle Eastern families move into the country. Among some of the recent cases compiled by the AHA Foundation, which, according to its website, helps "protect and defend the rights of women in the West from oppression justified by religion and culture":
In Arizona in February 2012, 19-year-old Aiya Altameemi was allegedly assaulted by her mother, father and younger sister because she was seen talking to a boy. Her father put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. Aiya's mother, father and sister are facing charges related to these incidents.
In Arizona in October 2009, Faleh Almaleki killed his 20-year-old daughter, Noor, by running her down with his vehicle. He believed that she had shamed the family by becoming too Western and refusing to marry a man he had selected for her in Iraq. In February 2011, Almaleki was convicted of murder and sentenced to 34 years in prison.
In May 2008, Waheed Allah Mohammad stabbed his 19-year-old sister, Fauzia, outside their home in Henrietta, N.Y. Mohammad told investigators he did it because she had disgraced their family by going to clubs and wearing immodest clothing. Mohammad pleaded guilty to attempted murder and assault and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Re: Европа и ислам
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Serge7
Но ведь и это тоже Ислам!!!!!!!!
Пока это не переходит в характер навязывания своего мировоззрения другим особям.
