Teenager Survives Near-Honor Killing by Parents, Speaks Out in Court

A teenage girl, identified as Fatima, delivered an emotional impact statement in court after her Iraqi parents were sentenced for attempted murder in connection with a brutal attack outside her high school. The parents, Ihsan and Zahraa Ali, were previously accused of trying to kill their daughter in an apparent “honor killing” attempt last October.

Fatima called her father “a disgusting monster” before he received a 20-month sentence. She described her heartbreak, saying, “My dad tried to kill me with his own hands. Do you have no love for me?” She also criticized her mother for failing to help her during the attack, saying, “My mom saw me almost pass away right in front of her eyes and didn’t help me at all.”

The court identified that both parents were acquitted of attempted murder charges. Instead, her father was convicted of assault and unlawful imprisonment, while her mother was found guilty of violating a court order. The judge sentenced Ihsan Ali to 20 months and Zahraa Ali to just under a year.

Prosecutors revealed that Fatima had run away from home due to abuse and fears that her parents would take her to Iraq. Police reports indicated her father had threatened her with honor killing for refusing an arranged marriage to an older man in another country.

Video footage showed Ihsan Ali choking Fatima outside her school until she lost consciousness, with bystanders rushing to her rescue. The girl recounted that her parents attacked her after she sought help at school. The court heard how her father sought to maintain control, refusing to let her breathe during the assault.

Judge Christine Schaller remarked that Fatima’s life was likely saved by the bystanders. Addressing her father, the judge stated, “Your behavior was reprehensible and nothing defends what you did.”

Key Verdicts

• Parents convicted of assault and violating a court order, not attempted murder.
• Sentence: 20 months for the father, just under a year for the mother.
• Children’s account of abuse and threats over refused arranged marriage.