“Honor Killings” – Page 4 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Won’t Face Death Penalty for 1st Degree Murder

New report on the Noor Almaleki “honor killing” states that her father, charged with first degree murder, after he allegedly ran her over and murdered her with a Jeep in October 2009, will not face the death penalty in Arizona.

Dad accused in ‘honor killing’ will not face death penalty

by Dustin Gardiner – Feb. 19, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

A Glendale man accused of killing his daughter in an “honor killing” will not face the death penalty.

After sparring with the suspect’s defense attorney over its death-penalty-review process, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has said it will not seek death for Faleh Almaleki, 49.

The Iraqi immigrant is accused of killing his daughter, 20-year-old Noor Almaleki, for being “too Westernized.”

Police say he used his Jeep Cherokee to run down his daughter and another woman in a Peoria parking lot Oct. 20. Noor later died of her injuries.

Almaleki is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault and two counts of leaving the scene of a serious accident. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The decision not to seek the death penalty comes after Almaleki’s attorney, Billy Little, a public defender, asked a judge to take special precautions to ensure the County Attorney’s Office wouldn’t wrongly seek the death penalty because Almaleki is a Muslim.

Little requested that the office make public the process it uses to determine whether to seek capital punishment.

“An open process provides some level of assurance that there is no appearance that a Christian is seeking to execute a Muslim for racial, political, religious or cultural beliefs,” Little wrote, referring to County Attorney Andrew Thomas’ Christian faith.

Laura Reckart, a county prosecutor, responded that Little’s concern about the “supposed bias” of the office’s death-penalty-review process was “without legitimate factual or legal basis.”

She wrote that the state can seek the death penalty for any person convicted of first-degree murder if it can prove the existence of at least one aggravating factor, not because of religion.

However, the debate stopped there. On Tuesday, Reckart filed a motion indicating prosecutors would not seek the death penalty.

Mike Scerbo, a spokesman for the County Attorney’s Office, declined to comment on the decision.

Prosecutors said Almaleki has admitted killing his daughter because she disgraced the family by not following traditional Iraqi or Muslim values.

They liken the case to honor killings that occur in the Middle East, Africa and other parts of the world. In tribal societies where the practice occurs, male family members feel they must kill a rebellious relative who shames them by not adhering to traditional values.

Noor had reportedly married a man in Iraq and returned to Arizona to live with a boyfriend and his mother in Surprise, police said.

20 Year Old Noor Almaleki - Died on November 2, 2009 - A Victim of An Ideological Violence Against Women

See also R.E.A.L. reports on Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”:

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing” — Lawyer for Accused Father Says Prosecutors Should Not “wrongly seek the death penalty against his client because he is a Muslim”

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father charged with murder may need mental exam

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Charged With Murder

Arizona Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Pleads “Not Guilty” in Murdering Daughter

Arizona – Noor Almaleki Case: Hearing for Father Accused in Honor Killing Canceled for Third Time

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Arraignment Delayed Again, Friends Start to Speak

Arizona: Terrorism Against Women — Noor Almaleki Just Wanted To Be Normal

Arizona — Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Hassan Almaleki Arraignment Delayed, On Suicide Watch

Arizona — Noor Almaleki Honor Killing: Father To Be Arraigned, Face New Charges

Arizona: Woman in Suspected “Honor Killing” Dies — 20 Year Old Noor Almaleki

Arizona — Noor Almaleki Case: Arizona Jails Father in ‘Honor Killing’ Try

Arizona: Noor Almaleki Case — Father in “Honor Killing” Attempt Captured in UK — Extradited Back to US

Arizona — Noor Almaleki case: Family Says Noor Almaleki “Failed to Live by Traditional Muslim Values” — Woman in Critical Condition in Alleged “Honor Killing” Attempt

Arizona: Noor Almaleki’s Lifestyle may have put woman in hospital

Arizona: Father runs down daughter in Peoria parking lot — Noor Faleh Almaleki attacked for being “too westernized”

Rifqa Bary Case: Agreement between Rifqa Bary, parents to settle conflict short-lived

— New motion filed in Franklin County Juvenile Court
— Columbus Dispatch reports: “The motion says: ‘The parents now believe the entire deal should be thrown out because of misrepresentation and fraudulent inducement.’ It adds that the Barys now object to all decisions made on Jan. 19 and want a trial on the dependency case.”
— “Two separate motions ask the court to remove Lloyd as Rifqa’s counsel and Bonnie Vangeloff as her guardian ad litem.”
— “Tarazi also filed an emergency motion that all contact between Rifqa and those who ‘assisted in her unruly behavior’ be prohibited because of a pending criminal investigation.”

Rifqa Bary, 17 - reports say she is threatened with death by her family in Ohio for converting from Islam to Christianity

Columbus, Ohio - Rifqa Bary (right) talks to attorney Angela M. Lloyd (left) at December 22 hearing (Columbus Dispatch / Tom Dodge)

Ohio – Rifqa Bary Case: Counseling next for Rifqa, family

Ohio – Rifqa Bary Case: Counseling next for Rifqa, family
— Columbus Dispatch reports: “Judge decides to keep teen in foster care until she decides to go home or turns 18”
— “Franklin County Children Services will retain temporary custody of Rifqa, who is living in a foster home. She likely will stay in foster care until her 18th birthday on Aug. 10, after which she is an adult and free to live where she chooses.”
— “Another attorney for Rifqa, Kort Gatterdam, read from a statement that both parties agreed to.”
— ” ‘Rifqa and her parents love and respect each other,’ he began, adding that counseling was thought to be the best solution.”

— Runaway teen convert and parents end dispute

— “Can Counseling Prevent a Potential Honor Killing? The Rifqa Bary Case” – by Phyllis Chesler

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing” – Lawyer for Accused Father Says Prosecutors Should Not “wrongly seek the death penalty against his client because he is a Muslim”

Arizona Republic reports on comments by Attorney Billie Little for Faleh Hassan Almaleki accused of murdering his 20 year old daughter Noor Almaleki in an “honor killing” for not following “traditional Muslim values.”

Arizona Republic reports – “Religion issue raised in case of Glendale man in ‘honor killing'” by Dustin Gardiner:

— “The lawyer for an Iraqi immigrant accused of slaying his daughter in an ‘honor killing’ is asking a judge to take special precautions to ensure the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office doesn’t wrongly seek the death penalty against his client because he is a Muslim.”
— “In a motion filed last week in Maricopa County Superior Court, attorney Billie Little requests that the court force the County Attorney’s Office to make public the process it will use to determine whether to seek the death penalty for his client.”
— “Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 48, of Glendale, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 20-year-old daughter, Noor Almaleki.”
— “The elder Almaleki is accused of using his Jeep to run over his daughter and another woman in a Peoria parking lot on Oct. 20. His daughter later died of her injuries.”
— “During a news conference last month, County Attorney Andrew Thomas said his office was still determining whether to seek the death penalty for Almaleki. He called the case ‘tragic,’ saying the county will prosecute Almaleki to the full extent.”
— “Prosecutors have labeled Noor Almaleki’s death an honor killing, saying the elder Almaleki killed his daughter because she disgraced the family by not following traditional Iraqi or Muslim values.”
— “Citing a tie between the case and religious or cultural beliefs, Little is asking Thomas’ office to record or keep transcripts of any meetings used to determine whether it will seek the death penalty for Almaleki.”
— “‘An open process provides some level of assurance that there is no appearance that a Christian is seeking to execute a Muslim for racial, political, religious or cultural beliefs,’ Little wrote, referring to Thomas as a Christian.”
— “Mike Scerbo, a spokesman for the County Attorney’s Office, declined to speak about the pending case or the review process that death penalty requests go through.”

Faleh Hassan Almaleki (Left) and Murdered Noor Faleh Almaleki (Right)

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father charged with murder may need mental exam

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Iraqi dad charged with murder may need mental exam
— AP: “An Iraqi immigrant accused of killing his 20-year-old daughter because he believed she had become too westernized doesn’t understand court proceedings and may need a mental-health evaluation, his lawyer said Wednesday.”
— “‘He just doesn’t have a clue as to what’s going on,’ [his attorney] Little told The Associated Press. “I can’t determine if it’s language, cultural or a mental-health issue.”
— “A mental-health expert typically evaluates a defendant’s competency to stand trial in such cases, Little said. If the lack of comprehension has to do with language or culture, Almaleki may just need to be taught about the American justice system in his native Arabic.”

— Mental health of Glendale man held in daughter’s death cited

— Iraqi Dad May Need Mental-Health Exam

See also R.E.A.L. reports on Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”:

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Charged With Murder

Arizona Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Pleads “Not Guilty” in Murdering Daughter

Arizona – Noor Almaleki Case: Hearing for Father Accused in Honor Killing Canceled for Third Time

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Arraignment Delayed Again, Friends Start to Speak

Arizona: Terrorism Against Women — Noor Almaleki Just Wanted To Be Normal

Arizona — Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Hassan Almaleki Arraignment Delayed, On Suicide Watch

Arizona — Noor Almaleki Honor Killing: Father To Be Arraigned, Face New Charges

Arizona: Woman in Suspected “Honor Killing” Dies — 20 Year Old Noor Almaleki

Arizona — Noor Almaleki Case: Arizona Jails Father in ‘Honor Killing’ Try

Arizona: Noor Almaleki Case — Father in “Honor Killing” Attempt Captured in UK — Extradited Back to US

Arizona — Noor Almaleki case: Family Says Noor Almaleki “Failed to Live by Traditional Muslim Values” — Woman in Critical Condition in Alleged “Honor Killing” Attempt

Arizona: Noor Almaleki’s Lifestyle may have put woman in hospital

Arizona: Father runs down daughter in Peoria parking lot — Noor Faleh Almaleki attacked for being “too westernized”

Rifqa Bary Case News Updates

— Guardian to review Rifqa’s mail – Attorneys in dependency case reach common ground on a few matters

— Pastor Contacted Police About Runaway Convert

— Rifqa Bary’s pastor denies he broke law to aid teen

— Pastor in Teen Convert Case Denies He Intentionally Broke Law

Ohio – Rifqa Bary Case: Court Decides Bary to Stay in Foster Care, To Receive Christmas Cards, Next Date January 19

— CBN Report: Rifqa Bary to Stay in Foster Care for Christmas
— CBN News: “After attending her first court hearing in Ohio, Tuesday, it looks like Rifqa Bary will be spend Christmas in foster care.”
— “This was 17-year-old Christian convert’s first time before a judge in her home state since running away to Florida in fear that her Muslim parents would kill her for converting to Christianity.”

— Columbus Dispatch: “Magistrate rules that runaway doesn’t have to sit down with parents”
— Dispatch also reports Bary being assessed for post-traumatic stress disorder, parent’s attorney withdrew motion to block Bary from receiving Christmas cards or third-party messages

— FOX55 reports: “Runaway Teen Christian Convert Is Getting Her Christmas Cards”

— Examiner: “Resolution in Rifqa Bary case still nowhere in sight” – “The next court date in the case will be January 19th.”

Additional reports:

Columbus, Ohio — Rifqa Bary Case: “Runaway convert told to talk religion with Muslim parents”

Columbus, Ohio: November 13 — R.E.A.L. Public Awareness Activities on Religious Freedom

Ohio: Rifqa Bary returns to Columbus — Bary’s Internet, Phone Usage to be Monitored

Florida: Judge orders Fathima Rifqa Bary to return to Ohio

Rifqa Bary tells Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) she was abused, was supposed to have arranged marriage

Rifqa Bary Case: Runaway Rifqa Bary could be one step closer to returning home

U.S. — CNN iReport Says Rifqa Bary Case Indicative of Human Rights Threats to Thousands

Florida: Court Decides to Return Rifqa Bary to Ohio — 17 Year Old Christian Convert Girl Claims Muslim Parents Threatened to Kill Her

Florida: Updates on Rifqa Bary Case

Press Release: “Former Muslims Call on DOJ, US Commission On Civil Rights to Investigate Hate Crimes and Discrimination Against Apostates from Islam”

Ohio: Columbus Dispatch — “Family of runaway files court complaint” — Rifqa Bary case

U.S.: “‘We need to kill’ Christian girl” — Teen who fled Muslim family gets online threat — Rifqa Bary

Florida: Fathima Rifqa Bary Case — Judge keeps girl in Florida, orders mediation

Florida: Rifaq Bary Case — Additional Reports

Florida: Judge says 17-year-old Christian convert Rifqa Bary must stay in Florida

Florida Governor’s Office Replies on Rifqa Bary Case

Florida: Human Rights Group Calls for Florida Social Services Not to Return Christian Girl (Rifqa Bary) to Ohio

Florida: Human Rights Group Urges You to Contact Florida Governor, Florida Dept of Children and Family on Rifqa Bary Case

Florida: Ohio Girl Says Family Threatens to Kill Her for Converting from Islam to Christianity

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Charged With Murder

Arizona Republic reports:
— “Man charged with murder in ‘honor killing'”
— “An Iraqi immigrant accused of slaying his daughter in an “honor killing” has been charged with first-degree murder and could face the death penalty, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said Monday.”
— “Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 48, of Glendale, is accused of using his Jeep Cherokee to run over his daughter, 20-year-old Noor Almaleki, and another woman in a Peoria parking lot on Oct. 20. His daughter died of her injuries.”
— “Prosecutors have labeled Noor Almaleki’s death an ‘honor killing,’ saying the elder Almaleki killed his daughter because she dishonored the family by not following traditional Iraqi or Muslim values.”
— “She reportedly married a man in Iraq and returned to Arizona to live with a boyfriend and his mother in Surprise.”
— “Thomas announced Almaleki was also being charged with attempted first-degree murder in the attack on his daughter’s friend, Amal Khalaf, 43. Khalaf is the boyfriend’s mother and is expected to recover from her injuries, police said.”
— “Almaleki was charged with two additional felony counts for leaving the scene of a serious injury accident.”
— “Thomas said his office is still determining whether to seek the death penalty for Almaleki. He called the case ‘tragic,’ saying the county will prosecute Almaleki to the full extent.”
— “At Almaleki’s initial court appearance on Oct. 31, county prosecutor Stephanie Low said he admitted deliberately running down his daughter.”
— ” ‘By his own admission, this was an intentional act, and the reason was that his daughter had brought shame on him and his family,’ Low said. ‘This was an attempt at an honor killing.’ ”

KPHO Phoenix reports:
— “Dad Faces Murder Charges In Daughter’s Death”
— “A Glendale father accused of running down his daughter because she was too Westernized now faces several new charges, including first-degree murder.”
— “A grand jury also indicted 48-year-old Iraqi immigrant Faleh Hassan Almaleki on attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and leaving the scene of an accident charges.”
— “Almaleki was originally charged with two counts of aggravated assault.”

R.E.A.L. Outreach to Public at CNN Washington DC on Extremist “Honor Killings”

Columbus, Ohio: November 13 — R.E.A.L. Public Awareness Activities on Religious Freedom

R.E.A.L.'s Public Awareness Outreach at CNN Washington DC Offices (820 First St. N.E., Washington, DC 20002)

See also R.E.A.L. reports on Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”:

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Charged With Murder

Arizona Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Pleads “Not Guilty” in Murdering Daughter

Arizona – Noor Almaleki Case: Hearing for Father Accused in Honor Killing Canceled for Third Time

Arizona – Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Arraignment Delayed Again, Friends Start to Speak

Arizona: Terrorism Against Women — Noor Almaleki Just Wanted To Be Normal

Arizona — Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Hassan Almaleki Arraignment Delayed, On Suicide Watch

Arizona — Noor Almaleki Honor Killing: Father To Be Arraigned, Face New Charges

Arizona: Woman in Suspected “Honor Killing” Dies — 20 Year Old Noor Almaleki

Arizona — Noor Almaleki Case: Arizona Jails Father in ‘Honor Killing’ Try

Arizona: Noor Almaleki Case — Father in “Honor Killing” Attempt Captured in UK — Extradited Back to US

Arizona — Noor Almaleki case: Family Says Noor Almaleki “Failed to Live by Traditional Muslim Values” — Woman in Critical Condition in Alleged “Honor Killing” Attempt

Arizona: Noor Almaleki’s Lifestyle may have put woman in hospital

Arizona: Father runs down daughter in Peoria parking lot — Noor Faleh Almaleki attacked for being “too westernized”

Columbus, Ohio – Rifqa Bary Case: “Runaway convert told to talk religion with Muslim parents”

“Runaway convert told to talk religion with Muslim parents”
AP reports:
— “A case-management plan filed Monday said Rifqa Bary and her parents should hear what each has to say about Islam and Christianity as a step toward a possible reunification.”
— “But the plan, written by Margaret Shirk, a Franklin County Children Services Board caseworker, also said ‘severe differences’ exist between the 17-year-old girl and her parents over what led Rifqa to run away to Florida over the summer.”
— “The girl has said she feared her father would harm or kill her for leaving Islam. Her father has denied the claim.”

— Plan offers way to reunite runaway teen convert and family

— Religious rift still keeping Rifqa, parents apart
— Columbus Dispatch: “Everyone involved in the Rifqa case, including Children Services employees, is under a gag order. O’Leary spoke in general terms about case plans.”
— “A caseworker developed the plan with Rifqa and her parents, but only Children Services workers signed it. Rifqa and her parents disagree with the plan, and so does the guardian the court appointed for her, according to the paperwork filed with the court on Monday.”

Arizona Noor Almaleki “Honor Killing”: Father Pleads “Not Guilty” in Murdering Daughter

— Arizona Republic: “Glendale father accused in ‘honor killing’ pleads not guilty”
— “An Iraqi immigrant has pleaded not guilty to charges that he killed his daughter, claiming she had become ‘too Westernized.’ ”
— “Faleh Hassan Almaleki, 48, is accused of running over his daughter, 20-year-old Noor Almaleki, and another woman in a Peoria parking lot in October. His daughter later died of her injuries.”
— “Almaleki was arraigned in Maricopa County Superior Court Monday morning. He previously missed two scheduled arraignment hearings because he was under suicide watch in a county jail.”
— “Prosecutors have labeled Noor Almaleki’s death an ‘honor killing,’ saying the elder Almaleki killed his daughter because she dishonored the family by not following traditional Iraqi or Muslim values.”

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