This tragedy is the outcome of an arranged marriage that took place in Iraq when Shaima was age 14 and Kassim was age 30 (pedophile).

Then the father arranged a marriage for their 17 year-old daughter to some creepy hairy uncle from Iraq and the mother didn't want her daughter to suffer as she did so she demanded a divorce. It's dishonorable to disobey your husband on these matters in Islam so he did as instructed by his culture to do, and that was to savagely beat her to death, collect the life insurance and then blame the infidels in America.

The experts have already confirmed that there is a distinct difference between domestic violence and honor killing.

On February 12, 2009, Muzzammil Hassan informed police that he had beheaded his wife. Hassan had emigrated to the United States 30 years ago and, after a successful banking career, had founded Bridges TV, a Muslim-interest network which aims, according to its website, "to foster a greater understanding among many cultures and diverse populations." Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III told The Buffalo News that "this is the worst form of domestic violence possible," and Khalid Qazi, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council of Western New York, told the New York Post that Islam forbids such domestic violence. While Muslim advocacy organizations argue that honor killings are a misnomer stigmatizing Muslims for what is simply domestic violence, a problem that has nothing to do with religion, Phyllis Chesler, who just completed a study of more than 50 instances of North American honor killings, says the evidence suggests otherwise.

http://www.meforum.org/2067/are-honor-killings-simply-domestic-violence

1. who are "the experts"? I would say it certainly is domestic violence since it involves one family member committing violence against another. Whatever label anyone wants to give is, murder is murder.

2. Islam does not allow "honor killing". It is a cultural thing and is foreign to Muslims not from those cultures. "Honor killing" is murder plain in simple and is impossible to justify in Islam.

Thank god it wasn't an evil white Christian male. Amazingly, it was tan skinned Muslim male that committed the crime for which all the Liberal Lemmings put head-scarfs on and march for women's rights against racist evil white Christian males. Well, I guess you showed those evil white racist who was boss, right - idiots! This is you f&*king cultural diversity shoved down you throats in reverse! Try not to choke on it you pack of bigots who accused the wrong group!

As time goes by, violent crime rates will rise. Because of the liberal policies of our government. Bleeding heart liberals want less time for violent criminals and when those criminals get out of prison they will commit even more crime.

Logan, I'm not sure where you get your information----Most "liberals" want NON VIOLENT criminals like those busted with less than an oz of Marijuana released so room can be made for violent criminals like murderers.

This guy regardless of his church or skin color is a wife beater who obviously terrorized his family in the same way as most abusers and should be tried as such. The problem is when the Uncle comes here and tries to forcibly take the teenage daughter as per the agreement between him and his brother (in-law?).

Pedophile? Latekate? That term does not exist in those nations that do arrange marriages. You already labeled a man for something that never occurred in the U.S., or Western Civilization. There are Muslim women, who get killed, and "honor killed" for going against Islamic, and Sharia Law when it comes to "moral crimes". Shaima Alawadi's marriage occurred in Iraq, and if she wanted a divorce, would have to request permission in their Court of Law (Iraq), and go through red-tape to get it, since this action is greatly discourage at the start. My understanding is that such a woman is still expected to comply to Islamic rules of morality in the West, or United States. If such a Muslim woman express the need to have more freedoms, or exercise "citizenry rights" That Muslim woman is now a trouble-maker, or corrupted. If Shaima fled her husband after seeking a divorce? She would still be alive. At least the police did not give up on the case, and they arrested Kassim Alhimidi for murder. And Kevin-1865513? There has to be a classification system for types of murder for clarity purposes for law enforcement. Therefore this is an act of domestic violence that the husband sought to cover up as a "hate crime". Back in his home Country, he would stand little chance of prosecution for the same crime, because the women there are already villianized in advance, before there is an investigation.

Perhaps if more men faced these types of consequences, fewer women would have to face husbands who believed they were only property, easy to throw away and of little worth. The times of hiding behind false ideologies which allow males to get away with not having to learn self control,believing they have ultimate rule over any female so they can do as they wish, and hold the power of life or death in their two hands, is over. Talk about an ego trip, wow.

Welcome to the United States of America of the 21st century. Where everyone has equal protection under the Bill of Rights and Constitution. I know, that will be really hard for certain immigrant men and women to accept. Just try throwing stones at it,punching, burning the flag or stomping on it, Because it won't make a dent. Any who try practicing their old world traditions which deny another their same rights will face arrest and prosecution. Americans still value life.

It occurs to me that this husband knew his wife was going to leave, as did the daughter. Perhaps the daughter wrote the note after the fact. I can't image the mother not making any sounds or calling out for help.On the domestic cases I have been to, there have usually been loud noises, shouting, etc.So I would think the daughter might have heard something even. How sad this mother never got away to the relatives she had in mind. May she rest in peace. I hope the girl wasn't involved and gets the support she will need.

Thor 9. In a way, I can see your point about classification of different types of murder, but to me what it really comes down to is murder is murder. No type of murder is less severe than any other type. If her husband murdered her, he deserves the same penalty regardless of his motive.

Shaima Alawadi's marriage occurred in Iraq, and if she wanted a divorce, would have to request permission in their Court of Law (Iraq), and go through red-tape to get it, since this action is greatly discourage at the start.

Are these people US citizens??? The article doesn't say but if they are, there was no reason to return to Iraq for a divorce. Divorces are granted in the US on a daily basis.

Twice you say

My understanding is that such a woman

If such a Muslim woman

That murdered "such a woman" was entitled to freedom. She was no longer worth less than a goat. She was a free human being. Free to think and pursue dreams. The neanderthal that she was chained to put an end to all of that and had a good laugh trying to pin this on some phantom racist.

Do you think that such a man as this is still laughing???

The daughter should be locked up as an accessory,has anybody seen the Bull...t story she relates in the news interview she gave.And to call this Domestic Violence is as disingenuous as when labelled a "hate crime".Sooner or later western society needs to wake up and "smell the coffee".Islam permits this sort of Nonsense it's what Happens under the Sharia.And not a word of an apology from Kari Huus about the nonsense she published as news.

I still wonder if the daughter was in on it.

I still wonder if the daughter was in on it.

Me too. Not only does she report hearing a sharp whimper from downstairs along with a thud that morning of the killing, but then takes a full ten minutes to meander down to have a look.

Plus friction with her Mom as reported in the court papers including jumping out of a car at 35 MPH (her Mom was driving) after having been caught by police in a public (car) sexual situation with an unapproved boyfriend.

Then there was that bizarre media interview too which raised all kinds of alarms with many of us.

Or she might be completely innocent, just really psychologically screwed up. Hard to blame her, though, given her family and Islam.

chefaz-1319563. It is still a marriage that did not occur on American soil. Let us say that our courts gave Shaima Alawadi a divorce here in the U.S.? It would not be necessarily recognized by the Iraqi Court, or the government for that matter.

Women need to have guns, especially women who face this every day. It levels the playing field.

Uh guns no, not unless that woman is very proficient in the use of firearms, plus she may not be able to get to the gun. From my perspective, martial arts training would work much better, especially if bully boy was out of the loop.

Excellent point, Stevie. I'm not against conceal and carry, but with the martial arts, you always have your weapon and never have to "reach for it" or worry about it getting caught in its holster. A gold star for you, sir.

Actually, I think it was more the America-hating leftists and liberals who fanned the flames of fear over this the most. They were the ones who so eagerly took the bait that the killer dangled in that note he left. It sounded completely plausible to them because that's how they view America too, as a country overflowing with racists and bigots who can hardly wait to start killing people for looking a bit different. So they ran with it and splashed it everywhere with WWIII type headlines: Crazed ("white" assumed of course) Bigot Killer on the Loose in Racist San Diego, targeting Muslim women who wear a headscarf. They believed it because they wanted to believe it. In their heart of hearts they were hoping it was true.

Hey Adam got a question for you, you don't really believe that American liberals hate America do you? I mean i'd have hought they love America as much as any Conservative they just have different soical and political values then their conservative counterparts, or at least that's the impression I get and I'm a European (so by American right wing standards i'm anywhere from a Socialist to a Communist depending on how far right you want to go lol) I would say from what I have seen both right and left wing media framed this story in their traditional ways, as in the Left called it a racists hate crime whereas the Right called it an honnor killing, it's one of the side effects of have over competative 24/7 media networks, there is no time to wait for facts.

Hey Adam got a question for you, you don't really believe that American liberals hate America do you?

A lot of them do, for sure. Or maybe contempt is a better word. They are contemptuous of the America that they can't orchestrate to the tune they want to conduct.

I mean i'd have hought they love America as much as any Conservative they just have different soical and political values then their conservative counterparts

As before, they love America only insofar as it aligns with their idea(s) of what America should be. And they hold America to an impossible standard of lofty purity that they expect of no one else in the world. So there's a constant elitist sneering and condescension for whatever they don't understand and/or don't control. And constant indictment of American history: The Native Americans (Indians) were intentionally and methodically massacred so that "the white man" could steal their land. And it proceeds from there, an intentional attempt to undermine, delegitimize, and shame American history in order to weaken social cohesion and pave the way for the liberal/left agenda. Not to sound too conspiratorial, i don't think it's all arranged in a mass meeting somewhere, but rather disseminated through organs like The New York Times, the ACLU, and on and on. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions of course but they're tearing down the country and it's not going to lead to a happy ending. It's a big part of why America is so fractured with that enormous maw between left and right that continues to widen.

I'm a European (so by American right wing standards i'm anywhere from a Socialist to a Communist depending on how far right you want to go lol)

I don't know what you are exactly but it seems that you've picked up on some of my hostility to what I perceive as a liberal/left ideology and agenda. I won't worry too much about that because I take the same approach with that as I do with Islam. As you know I find Islam to be particularly repugnant, regressive, repressive, misogynistic, supremacist, etc. However, that doesn't mean that I dislike Muslims qua Muslims. In fact I don't dislike Muslims, I dislike Islam. Well, it's the same for me (though not as intense) with the liberal leftist paradigm. I dislike a lot of the theory and practice of the liberal left. That doesn't mean that I necessarily dislike liberals and leftists. In fact I like some of them a lot. In fact, more than half my family is liberal left. More than half my friends are liberal left. The University I went to was/is very much liberal left. Where I was born and grew up is quite liberal left. I quite easily distinguish between ideology and individuals.

I would say from what I have seen both right and left wing media framed this story in their traditional ways, as in the Left called it a racists hate crime whereas the Right called it an honnor killing

As I said before, the "honor killing" part was -- at least for me -- payback for the damage that the killer and the leftist media did with their unjust screaming headline (and note threat) indictments of racist, bigoted America.
It wasn't an isolated incident. The liberal/left media do this kind of thing constantly, seizing on every big or little shred of "news" that indicts racist, bigoted, homophobic, Christian America. It is a constant drumbeat. This time they got caught with their pants down (trumpeting the story) so when it became clear that it was not a "hate crime," they just buried the outcome so that 99.99999% of the people never got to hear how the story ended. America heard ALL about the crazed, bigoted, "white" Islamophobic killer who targeted and killed a Muslima for having hijab, but didn't hear a damn thing more about it once the fraud was exposed. Wasn't that a story too? Nope. That's the arrogance and control of the leftist-liberal elites in action. Just a dollop of payback comes in the form of calling the former "hate crime" an "honor killing." Personally i don't think the killing was convincingly an honor killing but it serves the bastard (the killer) right that such a tag should be hung on him since he tried to cover up his crime by damaging his adopted country in the way he did. And also it's payback to the liberal leftist elites who rammed the story down everyone's throat when they thought it was a hate crime. For some reason they're always protecting Islam anyway even though it's such a regressive, repressive, intolerant, and supremacist creed. "But Hey, Christianity is just as bad" comes the invariable retort, even though that's demonstrably untrue, as the enormous discrepancy in numbers murdered by each creed attests to (people infected by the fundamentalism of each creed to be more exact).

it's one of the side effects of have over competative 24/7 media networks, there is no time to wait for facts.

There was no longer any interest in the facts once the sexy, desirable "HATE" angle fell though. They didn't even bother to finish telling the story.

Hey Adam

Thanks for replying I remember you saying you’ll be busy this time of year, and in case I forget to say it in the future “happy Christmas” anyway, I just want to reply to a few points, first of I wasn’t just picking up on your hostility but -from what I can tell- is the feeling of the American Right in regards to Europeans in general. That they see us universally as left wing (and that does include even our right-wing parties) and how far left they see us as being depends on how far left our governments are. So if we have a right-wing government in charge we are Socialists if we have a left-wing government in charge we are Communists. (Well that’s the basic gist)

Also since you bought up Native Americans I am aware that there is a running theme in schools of thought regarding American history and it should be noted that there is also a lot of evidence to back it up. However, there are also other themes and schools that stress that the removal of Indians was an unfortunate consequence in the creation of the United States and that there wasn’t a unified policy but a collection of polices conducted by various actors throughout history and even that some of the removal was partly deserved as during the American Revolution and the War of 1812 the Natives mostly fought against the United States. In all I take the view that since the different schools of history have evidence that can both credit and dis-credit them. There only real value is as frameworks for historians (and by that I mean anyone who has an interest in history not just professionals) to better understand and explain the events of different periods of time. But it is understandable and unfortunate that such schools are adopted by political ideologies as in doing so they are invariable watered down, simplified and presented as unquestionable truths by said ideologies.

Finally I just want to say that even if for you the calling of this murder as an honour killing was in reaction to the left. The fact remains that both left and right aired this at the same time and both framed it within their pre-existing parameters, so saying it’s an action-reaction system (even if it was for you personally) is a bit off the mark. I also want to say in regards to the whole “Christianity is just as bad view” that whilst the numbers of murders by Christian and fundamentalist are lower the hate speech, implication goals and justifications are the same. Which leads me to wonder that maybe it’s not their creed that prevents them from using violence but actually their means? After all in countries where most Christian fundamentalists are there is generally very strong law enforcement, very stable political and social institutions and with the exception of the US tight regulations of distribution of armaments too.

PS i do agree that the fact that MSNBC didn't do a follow up and admit it was wrong is disgracefull. But I have come to expect nothing less from todays media

That threatening note was a dead giveaway. What killer does that? And in the house, no less, next to the dead body. A lot of us smelled a rat right away and so did the police when they announced that there was no evidence that a mad killer was on the loose in the community.

Headscarves should be banned in public schools anyway.

Follow our laws? Why should they be expected to do that, no one else does. Illegal aliens are called undocumented workers, A Muslim Jihadist going on a shooting spree on an Army installation is called an incident of work place violence, the people in certain areas flaunt their distaste for the rule of law by doing drive by shootings KNOWING NO-ONE will come forward and identify them.

Fined first. Killed after.

Well, he was born in Iraq. I suppose he could pick any age he wanted to on his immigrant application papers.