E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Mike Blake / Reuters
Mourners hold a candlelight vigil to remember Shaima Alawadi outside her home in El Cajon, Calif., on Wednesday.
The beating death of Iraqi-American Shaima Alawadi in a refugee community in a San Diego suburb has brought attention to bias crimes against Muslims, even as police caution against definitively labeling her death a hate crime.
Alawadi, a 32-year-old stay-at-home mother of five, was found beaten in the dining room of her rented home last week by her 17-year-old daughter, police said. She died March 24.
Police are investigating the killing as a possible hate crime because of a note found next to Alawadi's unconscious body that threatened the family. An FBI bias crimes squad is assisting.
On Saturday, she was buried in Iraq, in the Valley of Peace cemetery in the holy Shiite city of Najaf, about 100 miles south of Baghdad.
"The martyr (Alawadi) used to love all; she made no distinction between religions," Alawadi's father, Nabil, told Reuters.
"Her husband told me that someone threw a note saying, 'go back to your own country, you're a terrorist' ... Who is the real terrorist, Shaima, or them," he said.
There was a big jump in hate crimes against Muslims after the September 11, 2001 attacks carried out by al-Qaida, but the number subsided during the middle of the decade.
But in 2011, the number of anti-Muslim hate groups tripled to 30, according to a recent report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which advocates for civil rights. There were 186 separate bias crimes in 2010, the highest number in five years, FBI data show.
"We are considering the hate crime aspect, but we are not labeling it as such," El Cajon Police Lt. Mark Coit said. But he said he could not reveal any details on the status of the case.
In a sign of how closely the case was being watched, the U.S. State Department expressed condolences for Alawadi's death, and Iraqi government representatives attended the funeral.
Law enforcement, and Arab and Muslim lobby groups, and even Alawadi's family is uncertain of what happened.
"The majority of the family believes that it could be anything," said Nazanin Wahid, a friend who is serving as a spokeswoman for the family. "But the fact that they found a note and that the police said initially that it resonates like a hate crime led them to believe that it could be that."
Growing immigrant community
Since Alawadi's death, at least two members of El Cajon's Muslim community have reported receiving threatening phone calls, said Sadaf Hane, civil rights director of the San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The Arab community in particular is prone to under-reporting such discrimination because of a distrust of the abuses of authorities, Hane added.
California police are investigating a brutal attack that left 32-year-old Shaima Alawadi dead. KNSD's Chris Chan reports.
El Cajon is in eastern San Diego County, which is home to the second-largest Iraqi community in the United States, behind Detroit. More than half of El Cajon's 100,000 residents are of Middle Eastern descent.
Like Alawadi's family, some of the city's Arab residents are Shiite refugees from Iraq who arrived in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s after fleeing their homeland after Saddam Hussein's 1980 invasion of Shiite neighbor Iran and the long war that followed.
But the town has seen an even larger surge of Iraqi newcomers since 2008 through a U.S.-funded refugee resettlement program, often joining relatives in the area, said Michael McKay, Deputy Director of Refugee Services at the Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego.
A friend of Alawadi's family, Sura Alzaidy, told the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper the note found near Alawadi read: "Go back to your own country. You're a terrorist."
Alawadi and her husband arrived in the United States in 1993 after spending years in a refugee tent camp. Majed al Hasan was their neighbor there and later became their neighbor in El Cajon.
The Iraq they fled was terrifying, with secret police torturing and killing perceived enemies of the state, Hasan said. "They come from a war-torn country," McKay said. "To think that you're not safe, still, after coming this far is scary."
Hoodies and hijabs
This week, hundreds of mourners stood in front of Alawadi's house in a quiet cul-de-sac nestled in the hills as the sun set, lighting candles for a vigil in her honor.
Alawadi's mother arrived and her cries of sorrow pierced the air. Wails erupted around her as she walked through the crowd, sobbing and beating her chest.
Some mourners wore the traditional black cloak and scarf worn by many devout Muslim women. Others wore T-shirts that said "Justice for Shaima Alawadi" above a silhouette of a woman wearing a Muslim headscarf.
Nelvin C. Cepeda / AP
Kassim Alhimidi holds the body of his wife, Shaima Alawadi, during a memorial service at the Islamic Center of Lakeside, Calif., on Tuesday. She was buried Saturday in Iraq.
Alawadi wore such a headscarf, and advocates for the Arab and Muslim community have suggested that her scarf may have been a factor in drawing attention to her as a perceived outsider, if indeed her killing was a hate crime.
"We're not going to cry, if that's what you wanted. We're not going to take off our scarf, if that's what you wanted," Alawadi's eldest daughter, Fatima, said at the vigil, addressing her mother's killer.
For many in El Cajon, the case has drawn parallels to that of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager shot in Florida last month by a Neighborhood Watch volunteer in a killing that has also drawn outrage because of its racial undertones.
"My condolences go out to the family of Trayvon," Alawadi's 15-year-old son Muhammed said at the vigil, as tears welled up in his eyes. "My candle goes out to you as well."
Some activists have begun linking the two cases on social media, spurring a popular #hoodiesandhijabs hashtag on Twitter. Martin was wearing a hoodie when he was killed. Students at several college campuses held "Hoodies and Hijabs" rallies on Thursday.
On Friday night, while his father was in Iraq, Shaima's son Ali Alawadi stayed behind for a candlelight vigil with members of the Iraqi community at the Town Center Community Park in Santee, NBCSanDiego.com reported.
"I just want to say thank you for honoring my mother," he said. "It means a lot. It gives us more confidence."
Leave a Comment:
All Ii know is that people who say there are no such things as hate crimes are just plain stupid.
Really, that's all you know? Must make life tough...
n/p xb.
The gubmint takes care of the non producers. Even the ones that only know one thing
When in Rome do as the Romans do, although not as slutty as some of the Romans, but still.
Maybe you hate Muslims, maybe not, but she left behind 5 grieving kids! It may shock some of you, even Muslims grieve. Worse f**king feeling a human can indure.
Yeah, no kidding.. but honestly, based on the reaction of the 17-year-old daughter, and what the note says, this case just resonates that it was her. "Go back to your country. You're a terrorist." How can an action so heinous be justified by that note!? There's no name-calling, no foul language at all.. not much hate in that note!! It seems as if someone who scheme'd this up made it super simple, and you know, not to be sexist, but a young female, arab at that, makes alot of sense.. Arabs tend to oversimplify things.. enjoying to live life simply.. so yeah. She schemed without doing alot of thinking, and acted. Characteristic of women.
Maybe the 17 year old did it because Mom wouldn't let her go to a party or buy her a cool cell phone. /sarcasm
Or possibly just four....
It's a crime or not a crime. Adding this relatively new hate crime concept to the law is stupid, because you don't kill somebody because you like them. The law shouldn't be used to modify people's behavior. Education is the only way to modify behavior.
What I don't get is that Muslims hate their women, they hate each other, they hate the blacks, they hate the Jews, they hate everything western, and they hate their country.
They come here why ?
I don't know...because they hate us ?
Dude.. It's their culture bra.. I'm pretty sure if you were to travel to the middle east, you'd find out that those folks are some of the nicest dudes anywhere.. Being a muslim means that you gotta have respect.. that's number one. Respect towards strangers. And it's there. Not hard to find, either, unless you're belligerent, then you'd expect to receive the same treatment.. but if you're cool, then they're honestly the nicest people.. I've been to the middle east, so I know.
I think your on to something there Sonar guy. I think we can narrow it down to an ideology.
sonar guy, do you feel the same way about Scott Peterson who was convicted of killing his pregnant wife? What about Susan Powell who is missing, do you think her husband hated her too? Am I to believe that when an american man is accused/convicted of killing his wife, that I should think all american men are like that or should I think only white men are capable of killing their white wives? Should I think it is a cultural thing? Pretty silly huh to think that? I am surprised with the way the news is here if non-americans think that way which is the way you seem to think they all hate us, which is a joke. Also from my understanding, the family has been here for a long time and had just moved to San Diego. I do believe they were living in Michigan and giving info to the US government.
Boom! valhallaarwen, you got it.
You do realize there are such people as black muslims and Asian muslims and white muslims, right? Muslims come in all colors and nationalities, so when you say muslims hate blacks, please explain that to me. In Islam everyone is your brother or sister, color is irrelevant. Arabs are all colors seeing as the middle east is technically in Asia and it connects Africa to Asia, so it's funny to me that you and other people are trying to start this Arab/black war thing when it probably is an Muslim vs. non-muslim thing. Plus not all muslims are like that, most are respectful and loving of all people regardless of their race or religion, at least the ones who truly follow the teachings of the Qur'an, so please stop typing bigoted comments on here like you know All muslims and all blacks in this country and in the world.
What I don't get is that christians hate their women, they hate each other -- they are so hateful and disagreeable to each other that they have one primary cult book, but over a thousand different denominations in order to worship separately from one another -- they hate the blacks unless they own them, they hate the Jews - always have, they hate everything western except greed/money, and they hate America - which is obvious. Why do they stay here? Probably because it's the easiest place for them to hate on others with impunity.
So who do you think did it Bernitch?
It's true what my grandfather said and he wasn't religious. It takes all kinds to make this world click/turn(round and round like a bernitch scratched/broken record on a record player) and Bernitch is proof, lol. There is hate and loving all over this planet of ours so why single out a race or creed???
Wow Vic. I've seldom had this much control over someone, that you follow practically all of my posts like this. Funny how someone can so easily rent out the extra space in your head and get under your skin so easily. I kinda feel sorry for you...
Damn Bernitch I guess it's true what they say, "What comes around, goes around"(not only do I follow you with your comments but you follow me, Ha). Don't feel sorry for me because you need to look at a mirror and try to figure it out yourself in that empty/dead space that sets above your neck. I'm done here and wont be posting anymore as I don't spend all day behind a computer. Going to go have lunch with my Gf, play some pool in the afternoon and then go to Fan Appreciation Night at the Honda Center in Anaheim and watch the Ducks and Oilers game.
You're obsessed, hon. I find it amusing. I'm here now for the entertainment value. This is cracking me up!
"Stop posting that, Bernitch! You shouldn't post about religion on a thread that's about a possible religion-based hate crime, you should wait until you see a thread about evolution!" Whine whine whine....
My gawd, you're following me around being the bossy little, self-appointed Vine content-monitor. What a childish little thing -- and the funny thing is, you're whining at me for posting WITHIN THE TOPIC!
LMFAO!!
Hate crime? It will be if the media "hate enablers" get their way. Can't get people to read or listen to news from the media, so make it as horrendous as possible. (notice the tie-in to Zimmerman-Martin? Yet no inkling of similarity exists)
Maybe George Zimmerman broke in and killed her, Zimmerman being a Jewish name and all. /sarcasm
Yeah, I don't think this was a hate crime. Had to be pre-meditated, and.. more than likely it was the daughter.. As far as motive, that'll be an interesting topic..
As far as muslim hate, I'm sorta familiar with this.. sorta.. I went to Dubai, and bought a checkered white + red emirati hat.. I wore that hat today, and went into a texan bbq place in albuquerque, and I was getting some interesting looks, so lol.. but the people were friendly.. Honestly, I couldn't say for sure if there is any muslim hate out here.. Or maybe that's just NM.. people are so nice out here..
Probably due more to the fact you were in a Texas BBQ joint in NM. :)
Sounds more like an honor killing.
Gosh, who could hate muslims?
Such a tragedy....
Please help this little girl
#!/BeingTheVoiceForLylahRose
Coming from a third generation of law enforcement family,I have questions...Why did they send her back to her home country to be buried? Did they do an autopsy? Why, out of all the muslims there,did someone(stranger) break into her home to kill her? I am dealing with Dearborn people,through threads online because it is the number one city for muslims in the country..Strange things go on there. This story sounds strange to me..They will do honor killings..Why kill a 58(her age,if I am correct)year old woman instead of a man? Men do more crime than a woman? Who would hate a woman of muslim faith,who is suppose to be timid/under control of her husband? It is not like she is an activist,out in the neighborhood causing strife...This is a strange story..
She is 31 you retard, can't you see the picture? Kind of blurry but still.
That comment is meaningless. It's like saying because your dad and grandfather were mechanics, you could rebuild a chevy engine... Rubbish! You clearly know nothing of police work, enforcement or the legal system.
Alawadi was 32 years old!! Can't you see the picture? .......... How can one find the result of a true age through a photo? lol.....
It's like saying.............. rubbish. You can if one was brought up as a mechanic at a young age. There has been families that have carried careers through generations. There are some unanswered questions here as to whether it was a hate crime or not.
And again... Wow! LMAO!!
A lot of speculation due to hate,a lot of hate due to speculation.When the truth
comes out,it allmost allways does,what will be solved?The hate or the speculation.
Don't believe anything you hear or read and only half of what you see.
Maybe more people should read the quran to have a better understanding of this mindset. Nothing here is out of the 'norm' for the religion defined in that book. Let's start calling a spade a spade. Read the quran (as much as I hate to say that). I have. And I recognize the insanity and hate.
There is some of that insanity and hate in all or at least most religions, though. For instance, the Bhagavad Gita involves Lord Krishna convincing his human disciple Arjuna to go to battle even though he'd be killing his own relatives. The Torah/Bible also has a lot of war-justifying passages, and even Jesus could be pretty violent, as in that money changers in the Temple story. (The money changers were in fact legitimate businessmen performing an essential function. People came to Jerusalem from all over the empire for Passover, and there was no common currency. How was the Temple to survive if people didn't pay for sacrifices, etc.? It's no different than you giving money to your church or synagogue or temple or mosque.)
The only thing shocking about the Qu'ran is that it was written only about 1,300 years ago whereas the other books I mentioned are much older. But hey, we STILL have war, don't we? Isn't war the ultimate expression of hatred? It seems our species' insanity isn't anywhere near being cured. You can't blame it all on religion, either. Marxism isn't a religion but look at how many people were murdered in its name.
"even larger surge of Iraqi newcomers since 2008 through a U.S.-funded refugee resettlement program"
Obama is flooding America with Islamists and terrorists, whose goal is a destruction of America.
I rarely defend Obama but I have to in this case. These aren't Iraqis selected at random. These are supposedly people who defended our troops at great risk to themselves.
Not according to Cousin Hussein. He says that the father has never worked for the U.S. military in any capacity and hasn't worked at any job in the last 17 years due to a disability. So the family has actually been on welfare since 1993 when they came over from Saudi Arabia because the mother didn't work either. Yet they have five children, all born here in the U.S., so the father was able to do one thing at least.p>
Source: http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/03/27/203513.html
Actually, I'm going to refrain from attacking the husband any more based on just this report that i just linked to in my last post. Reason being, IF the husband did work for the U.S. military then it is plausible that even someone as close to the family as one of the victim's brothers might not know about it.
A crime is a @!$%#ing crime!
Aren't all crimes hate crimes? Perpetrated by the ones who might claim they killed because they loved the victim? If someone kills another human being would hate not be the one and only reason that they did that?
If looking at any case one needs to be very careful when evaluating the reasons behind a crime. One thing is for sure: as tough as it is religion needs to be taken out of the equation. An Iraqi wife might die because she had the audacity to disobey her husband. An American wife might die because of the same reason.
Americans that only look at the woman as person from another nation with another religion themselves do not see why a crime occured. It would be foolish to assume that Muslim terrorists are any different than American terrorists.
Yep, I said it, thaaaat's right.
Better get Jessie and Al on this case immediately. They'll figure it out in 10 minutes.
So long as they willingly embrace their culture of "honor killing" & maiming/torture of women.........NOTHING those animals do surprises me. I really don't care........
Checking for agency reports on "love crimes"... nothing.
I thought all crime was malcontent, no?
not true, it was deleted because we are being fed information only info that they want us to have,
hasn't any one else but me noticed that there is a news black out lately?
my wife thought i was going nuts,, but now that she has watched for a couple of weeks,
even she sees it. wake up america!
when you see a breaking news item, research it, i did
some were as old as 1 year old and made to look like it just happened.
jesus h nipple! you already posted this twaddle, including the crap about your wife, the seer! get over it.
the time to arm ourselves is now
wake up every one!
Done, done, 'n done, bro.
When seconds count, help is only minutes away...
I live right across the Street from these MUSLIMS and I know it was an inside job. Most likely the MUSLIM Husband. They fight every night, and it gets loud. Why has he not been arrested. ?
Uhhhh, mohanmed says is OK?
OzarkDaredevil,
Have the police been told this by neighbors (YOU, for instance)? Or were the cops ever called as a result of one of their fights, either by the wife or by a concerned neighbor, like, for instance, you? Maybe you owe the cops a call even if it involves the hassle of becoming a witness who must testify in court.
The cops don't just arrest people and charge them with murder based on hunches. Usually they need the prosecutor's okay. Prosecutors don't order an arrest until they think there is enough evidence to convict, because once the arrest is made, the Constitutional right to a speedy trial kicks in. A premature trial means the defendant walks and cannot be retried because of double jeopardy. Real life isn't like a TV show in which everything is resolved in one hour. Be patient. There's no statute of limitations on murder. Be patient. I don't think the killer is going to get away with this.
I'll bet a beer that this wasn't a hate crime. This was a crime of passion, and the cops know it. Someone hated her, but it was someone she knew. That's the odds, anyway. Something ain't right with this story. The cops know more than they are letting on to knowing. And hate crime doesn't appear to be where it is leading.
Did anyone note the paragraph "But the town has seen an even larger surge of Iraqi newcomers since 2008 through a U.S.-funded refugee resettlement program, often joining relatives in the area, said Michael McKay, Deputy Director of Refugee Services at the Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego." Does this mean that my tax dollars are being used to bring these Muslims into this country? Politicians gone amok again - Please lets get rid of all incumbents - we need a new batch of crooks in Washington.
yep our tax dollars at work quietly
and,, thanks for waking up to what is going on
Got us a swill of Somalis in my town, gator. Beef packing house has new subsidized cheaper labor to give you that big-mac.
And they are disgusting, believe me.
No jokes about my sign-on name, please...
And the Somalis can say that Americans are disgusting because they live with their dogs and kiss them and stuff.
more proof that the goddam churches in this country are flooding us with more and more immigrants like this.
church -- the source of so much crap...
thanks catholics! as if raping tens of thousands of children wasn't enough...