Mom accused of attempted ‘honor killing’ of daughter with husband in Washington state arrested trying to cross Canadian border

On October 18 in Lacey, Washington, outside of Timberline High School, Ihsan and Zahraa Ali were both arrested for attempting to kill their 17-year-old daughter in what was described as an attempted "honor killing" after she refused to go to Iraq for an arranged marriage to an older man, according to court documents.

The daughter, who was not named, ran away from home to school after her parents tried to put her on a plane to Iraq. Her parents had kept her isolated at home after discovering that she had a romantic relationship with a male classmate.

A shocking video went viral after the incident, showing Ihsan on the ground with his daughter in a chokehold outside the school, while classmates and their parents tried to free her from his grip. After they managed to get the girl out of her father’s grip, Zahraa allegedly tried to finish the job but was stopped by her daughter's 16-year-old boyfriend and schoolmates.

Ihsan was arrested at the school, but Zahraa was still free for four days following the incident until she was detained by customs officers while attempting trying to cross the border from Washington state into Canada.

According to the Daily Mail, Whatcom County Sheriff's Office deputy Tawsha Dykstra wrote in her October 22 report that she was dispatched to the border at 8:38 pm to arrest Zahraa on a domestic assault warrant. Zahraa was taken into custody and booked into the Whatcom County Jail. She was later picked up by Lacey Police officers.

Victor Barnes, the father of the girl's boyfriend, told the outlet that Zahraa had fled to the border after prosecutors moved to charge her along with Ihsan. Barnes claimed Zahraa was in court with her eldest daughter, Haneen Ali at Ihsan's arraignment when prosecutors said they thought she was also a threat and were seeking an arrest warrant. “The second she hears that, she runs out the courtroom,” Barnes said, claiming that Haneen texted her with updates as the hearing continued. The mother drove her two boys, aged five and three, into Canada to drop them off with an uncle before coming back across the border and then attempting to go back to Canada.

During the time Zahraa was gone, investigators collected statements from the daughter, her boyfriend, and other witnesses and issued an arrest warrant that flagged her passport.

Barnes told the outlet that the two older sisters were also with the uncle in Canada, but wasn't sure when or how they got there, adding, “From what we know, this uncle is a lot [stricter] than her dad is, as far as what he believes... So prayers up for these kids.”

Barnes told the Daily Mail that, in February, his son started dating the girl, but her family kept it a secret from her father claiming, “He's an abusive man. So, they just didn't tell him because... they may think he'll fly off the handle and do something crazy like he did.” Barnes said he said his wife attempted to arrange a meeting with Zahraa months earlier to talk about the teens’ relationship, but conversations on the phone devolved into “a lot of yelling.”

According to Barnes, on September 16, Zahraa showed up to the school and “tried to kidnap his son.” He told the outlet that CCTV showed Zahraa grab his son and try to drag him away, but he was stronger and after a couple of steps pulled his arm away and told her not to touch him. Zahraa allegedly yelled at Barnes’ son calling him a “thug and a thief.”

Timberline sent Zahraa a letter the next day informing her that as she was spotted “grabbing and yelling at” a student, and that if she came to the school again she would be charged with trespassing.

Barnes wanted to press charges, but his son didn't want him to because “he was scared that the girl was gonna get in more trouble.” He then told his son either he would press charges, or he would discuss the issue with the girl's father to give him a chance to address it. Barnes said he called the father, told him what happened and that he was considering pressing charges adding that Ihsan was “more confused than angry” upon finding out what had happened.

Barnes said the girl told him later that her father said to her, “I told you you shouldn't be dating those n*ggers” after he hung up, pulled the girl out of the school, smashed the phone so the teens couldn't communicate, and bought plane tickets to Iraq. According to Barnes, Ihsan began threatening to kill his daughter, starved her, and other “crazy, crazy stuff.” The daughter told investigators about the abuse she suffered and claimed her autistic brother is treated even worse.

Barnes claimed there was another sister in the family who had died from cancer after her parents moved from Arizona to Washington. “When they moved here, they stopped giving her medical treatment and pretty much let her die on the couch.” This information, he said, came from the girl.

The Alis showed up at the Barnes house with police the morning of October 18 demanding to know where their daughter was, but Barnes didn’t know and said she was likely at school, then he texted his son to warn him.

Barnes told the outlet, “She shows up at the school and my son's class and the teacher helps her because she looks very malnourished,” adding that school officials took her to a room but emphasized, “They know she's in danger, they know her circumstances and situation, but they insist for her to take public transportation to get to her safe destination - without any type of chaperone.”

The girl and her boyfriend walked to the bus stop in front of the school and saw her father's pickup truck outside the building and Ishan come out of the truck to confront them, yelling at his daughter in Arabic. After another student yelled back in Arabic, “She doesn't want to go back with you. Leave her alone,” Barnes said that Ihsan “…didn't like what the kid said, he loses his mind and punches my son in the face.”

Another student told police the boyfriend was sent “flying onto the concrete” when he was punched and that is when Ishan allegedly put his daughter in a headlock and tried to choke her to death. Barnes said his son saw her losing consciousness and tried to save her. This account was backed up by the girl and other students, who managed to subdue Ihsan until police arrived. Zahraa then allegedly jumped in and also tried to strangle her daughter, but was separated by the students, even as “Her other daughter (Haneen), which is the girl's older sister, is trying to fight the other kids away,” said Barnes.

Security footage showed Zahraa chasing after the daughter and her boyfriend as they ran into the school but was blocked from following them inside. The principal demanded she leave and put the school on lockdown.

Barnes said his son hadn’t heard from the girl until she showed up at the school that day begging for help, but by then Barnes had already gotten a protective order against Zahraa on his son's behalf and one against Ihsan after the girl was attacked.

Barnes wrote in the application obtained by The Daily Mail, “At the end of the school day, the school made my child responsible for this girl's safety by asking him to help this girl get on the bus. They continued to put this girl's family situation in the lap of my child as if he's an adult and understands the gravity of everything.”

Barnes noted that his son was suffering mentally after he was allegedly punched in the face by Ihsan and watched as his girlfriend almost got murdered in front of him as he tried to save her. He also suffered a boxer's fracture trying to get Ishan to release his girlfriend. Medical staff at the hospital reported the girl suffered from strangulation, burst blood vessels in her eyes, and abrasions to her shoulders.