HONOR KILLINGS IN THE USA
FATHER AND MOTHER ATTEMPT TO KILL THEIR TEENAGED DAUGHTER WHEN SHE REFUSES TO RETURN TO IRAQ TO MARRY A MAN SHE HAS BEEN PROMISED TO.
BY SNN.BZ STAFF
A Tragic Attempted Honor Killing in Washington, in spite of the practice being outlawed
In a heartbreaking incident in Washington State, Ihsan Ali and his wife, Zahraa Subhi Mohsin Ali, have been accused of attempting to strangle their teenage daughter in a barbaric practice known as honor killing which is still practiced today all over the world.
The myriad of excuses claimed by many families that still use this method of violence are less based on religion than they are based in financial promises and debt recovery.
Quite often, a man borrows a large amount of money and places a daughter as collateral. Sometimes the infant hasn’t even been born yet but the father is allowed to use a future female child to pay off debts and settle differences.
The infant’s age or whether or not she’s even been born yet do not matter since betrothal promises in exchange for money can be applied to an unborn future infant. Many middle eastern men still use “promise of betrothal,” in order to obtain loans and other social benefits or favors and settle centuries old differences of opinion that have been passed down from father to son.
Arrest records and charges for both the father and mother responsible for this attempted murder can be found at the end of this article.
The daughter, who has not been named, was assaulted by her father because she refused to marry a significantly older man (close to her father’s age). This was a marriage previously arranged by her parents when they were still in Iraq.
The incident occurred after the young woman expressed her desire to reject the arranged marriage, which would have taken her back to Iraq. Her refusal infuriated her father, and in a violent attempt to force her into compliance, Ihsan Ali placed her in a chokehold, rendering her unconscious.
Normally, the word “alleged” precedes criminal reports or accusations. In this case however, multitudes of strangers to this family who had no involvement at all — filmed the event with their cell phones. Additionally, the event was also captured by RING cameras. The practice of always inserting the word “alleged” when an event absolutely occurred is used infrequently.
There are a minimum of 20 videos taken by people who witnessed the atrocious act therefore we are not referring to this case as “alleged.” This honor killing was attempted and was witnessed by over 30 people (20+ of them took videos of the entire incident).
Understanding Honor Killings
Honor killings, although absolutely illegal in the United States, are still common in certain regions of the Middle East and parts of South Asia. These acts of violence are driven by the belief that a family’s reputation and dignity must be protected at all costs, often through extreme measures.
In many cases, women are seen as the bearers of family honor, and if they challenge traditional expectations, they face harsh consequences, sometimes leading to violence or death. Wives and daughters are not “relatives” per se. Wives and daughters are considered property not relatives.
While the concept of “honor” is deeply embedded in the cultural practices of some communities, it’s important to note that these actions are criminal and a violation of human rights when in the western part of the world. Honor killings are not only a tragic form of abuse but also a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges surrounding gender inequality, control, and the autonomy of women. It would be irresponsible to use the words “autonomy” when referring to “women” since in Islamic family culture female family members have no autonomy.
The Legal Response
The Ali couple has been arrested and are facing serious charges, including attempted murder, assault, and attempted kidnapping. The authorities acted swiftly to intervene, and thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, the young woman survived. She is now receiving support from family members, community resources, and advocacy groups that help victims of domestic violence. That does not mean however that she is safe. Once her father is released, he will have to attempt to kill her again or engage someone else to kill her because the family has been taught that the family honor must be avenged.
Cultural Context and Protection
Though the practice of honor killings is a deeply ingrained tradition in some parts of the world, it is crucial to understand that such actions are a stark violation of both local and international law. In the U.S., where such practices are illegal, this case stands as a reminder of the critical need for ongoing education, awareness, and support systems for individuals from all cultural backgrounds to prevent further tragedies.
It is also essential to approach these topics with empathy and understanding, recognizing that many victims of honor-based violence are not only at risk of physical harm and death but also psychological trauma.
Local organizations, such as those dedicated to domestic violence prevention and human rights advocacy, want to play a critical role in offering protection and helping victims rebuild their lives. However, these violent practices have existed for centuries.
Western countries are fooling themselves if they think they are going to stop cenruies-old traditions however violent. When people whom have lived with these practices move to the west — they do not stop engaging in their cultural practices.
To this day, genital mutilation is practiced in the United States by an Islamic physician that engages in the barbarism even though it is a prohibited practice in this country. By having a licensed physician perform the genital mutilation, this community has gone around American law by engaging a legally licensed physician.
Conclusion
Honor killings are customary and frequent in the middle east. When people that practice such barbaric traditions move to the United States ensuring that the rights of individuals, particularly women, are upheld and respected.
Honor-based violence, in any form, has no place in modern society, and it is vital that we continue to educate and protect vulnerable individuals from practices that threaten their safety and freedom.
IHSAN ALI (father)
COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410130234 |
| CHARGE: | ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING 1ST DEGREE |
| BAIL: | $200000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 11/5/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410130234 |
| CHARGE: | ASSAULT 4TH DEGREE |
| BAIL: | $200000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 11/5/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410130234 |
| CHARGE: | ASSAULT 2ND DEGREE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
| BAIL: | $200000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 11/5/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410130234 |
| CHARGE: | ATTEMPTED MURDER 2ND DEGREE |
| BAIL: | $200000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 11/5/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410130234 |
| CHARGE: | ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING 2ND DEGREE |
| BAIL: | $200000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 11/5/2024 |
ZAHRAA SUBHI MOHSIN ALI (mother)
COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410132534 |
| CHARGE: | BURGLARY 2ND DEGREE |
| BAIL: | $100000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 10/23/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410132534 |
| CHARGE: | ATTEMPTED MURDER 2ND DEGREE |
| BAIL: | $50000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 10/23/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410132534 |
| CHARGE: | ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING 2ND DEGREE |
| BAIL: | $100000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 10/23/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410132534 |
| CHARGE: | ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING 1ST DEGREE |
| BAIL: | $100000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 10/23/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410132534 |
| CHARGE: | VIOLATION OF A PROTECTION ORDER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
| BAIL: | $100000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 10/23/2024 |
| COURT: | SUPERIOR COURT |
| CAUSE NUMBER: | 2410132534 |
| CHARGE: | ASSAULT 2ND DEGREE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
| BAIL: | $50000, BONDABLE |
| ARREST DATE: | 10/23/2024 |
