Two parents are facing criminal charges after violently choking their own daughter in an alleged “honor killing” attempt outside a high school in Lacey, Washington, last month.
Court documents obtained by KOMO News indicate that Ihsan and Zahraa Ali were arrested on October 18 outside Timberline High School in Lacey, Washington, after the 17-year-old student said her father had threatened to kill her as an “honor killing” over her refusal to go to a foreign country as part of an arranged marriage to an older man.
According to Fox 13, court documents show that the unidentified 17-year-old daughter reported previous abuse from both of her parents. The outlet reported that the girl told law enforcement officials her parents had attempted to force her to go to Iraq as part of an arranged marriage.
After allegedly being threatened by her father, the 17-year-old went to find help at the high school. However, witnesses reported that the father attacked the girl and put her in a chokehold. Court documents show that Ihsan Ali choked his daughter “to the point where she had lost consciousness.”
According to KOMO News, the 17-year-old told law enforcement officials that her father said, “It’s not right … you are not supposed to do this,” before she lost consciousness as he was choking her.
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A graphic video shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows students and other bystanders attempting to get the girl’s father away from her while he continued to choke her. KOMO news reported that the father punched his daughter’s boyfriend in the face as he attempted to protect her. Additionally, the outlet reported that Zahraa Ali was also seen choking her daughter during the incident.
Josh Wagner, a witness of the October incident, told KOMO News that he intervened, was able to release the girl from her father’s grip, and was able to hold her father down until police officers arrived at the scene.
After escaping from her father, the 17-year-old ran inside the school’s office and screamed, “My dad was trying to kill me.” The school then initiated a lockdown, which prevented the student’s parents from entering the building.
KOMO News reported that Ihsan and Zahraa Ali currently face charges of assault, attempted kidnapping, and attempted murder for the attempted “honor killing” incident.
Court documents obtained by KOMO News show that Zarhaa Ali was previously banned from school property due to a separate physical incident, which was part of a pattern of incidents with the Ali family. The outlet noted that the 17-year-old is currently safe while law enforcement officials continue the investigation into her parents.
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