Henriette was allegedly murdered on June 13 by her father, who is an Israeli Christian, for dating a Muslim boy. He and his family objected to her relationship with a man who was serving time in prison, as well as her plans to convert to Islam for him. A teen was found dead in the kitchen of her parent’s home with stab wounds to the neck. A week before the murder she filed a complaint with the police against her mother, saying she had attacked her. In the course of the investigation, Henriette's mother told the police her husband felt humiliated by his daughter's behavior and saw it as an affront to the “family’s honor.”
An honor killing or shame killing is the homicide of a member of a family, due to the perpetrators' belief that the victim has brought shame or dishonor upon the family, or has violated the principles of a community or a religion, usually for reasons such as refusing to enter an arranged marriage, being in a relationship that is disapproved by their family, having sex outside marriage, becoming the victim of rape, dressing in ways which are deemed inappropriate, engaging in non-heterosexual relations or renouncing a faith. Are those really reasons for someone to be killed?
Henriette escaped from home two weeks before the murder after her family used violence and threats to try to end her relationship, according to the indictment. She feared for her life and hid from her family in a number of places, including at the home of her boyfriend's mother. On June 11, two days before her murder, the police summoned Henriette and her parents for a joint meeting with a social worker. Henriette was asked to return home but she said no. She also refused a proposed woman’s shelter and asked for help from the welfare authorities in paying for an apartment. Both sides agreed at the meeting that Henriette would stay with a relative, but she returned home later that evening.
The next day she attended her high school graduation party. In a conversation, which was recorded by the police the night before the murder, Henriette's mother, Aliham, asked Sami Karra (the father of the murdered girl), why he let her go to the graduation party. “Forget about her, let her go to hell," he said. It’s not worth another shekel to even chase after her, she’s garbage. We need to whip her, throw her away like a dog and see how she does She’s already gone, I’m sick of her and you.”
After his arrest, Sami Karra refused to answer any questions from the police, except in one interrogation a few days ago when he confirmed he was the man seen leaving the house in a picture from security cameras. He then picked up his brother and drove to the seaside city of Bat Yam, but refused to explain why he remained there even after he was told of his daughter’s death.
Photo Credits: Daily Times
