A 17-year-old girl in Washington, USA, publicly confronted her parents in a courtroom during their sentencing for an alleged ‘honor killing’ attempt, accusing them of trying to strangle her. The incident, captured on video, occurred in October 2024 after the girl fled home to escape an arranged marriage. The parents were acquitted of attempted murder charges but convicted of assault and violating a restraining order, receiving prison sentences.
The teenager, whose name has not been disclosed, addressed her parents, Ihsan and Zahraa Ali, prior to sentencing. She called her father a ‘monster’ for allegedly trying to strangle her, expressing her disbelief that he was her father. She also criticized her mother for not helping her when she was in danger, saying she saw her almost pass away in front of her and did not intervene.
Prosecutors explained that the attack happened after the victim ran away from home to escape her father, who was allegedly trying to send her to another country. According to court documents, the teenager had told police that her father had threatened her with an ‘honor killing’ for refusing an arranged marriage to an older man abroad. The victim went to Timberline High School in Lacey County, a school she had previously attended, seeking help from school staff. Her father, mother, and sister reportedly followed her there, according to an affidavit filed on Oct. 24, 2024.
A school counselor helped the victim find shelter at ‘Safe Haven,’ and her plan was to take a city bus from the school to get there. While waiting for the city bus, the victim’s father allegedly approached her and said she needed to go home. He would not take no for an answer and began pulling at her shirt. She said that once she was placed into a choke hold, she was unable to breathe or speak, and then passed out. She believes she lost consciousness several times while her father allegedly choked her.
During sentencing, Judge Christine Schaller emphasized the severity of the attack and said that the victim likely would have died had bystanders not intervened. The judge told the father that his behavior was reprehensible and that he was not going to let her go, nor let her breath because nobody else was going to control the situation. He was going to maintain control.
The parents were acquitted of attempted murder charges but convicted of assault and unlawful imprisonment, with the father receiving the maximum sentence of 20 months in prison, while the mother received nearly a year for violating a restraining order. Both parents were also ordered not to have any contact with their daughter for the next 10 years.