Parents arrested outside Washington school after attempted 'honor killing' of their daughter

Two Washington parents are facing criminal charges, including attempted kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder, during what is being called an attempted “honor killing” of their daughter outside a high school.

According to court documents, on October 18 outside of Timberline High School in Lacey, Washington, the girl’s parents, Ihsan and Zahraa Ali, were both arrested after the 17-year-old victim told law enforcement that her father had been threatening to kill her in an "honor killing" after she refused to go to another country for an arranged marriage to an older man.

The daughter, who was not identified, went to school for help and witnesses saw the father had his daughter in a chokehold. Bystanders stepped in to break up the fight which they thought was among teenagers and realized it was the girl’s father Ihsan Ali choking his 17-year-old daughter “to the point where she had lost consciousness.”

The girl told police the father was saying as he was choking her, “It’s not right … you are not supposed to do this,” before she blacked out.

The incident was captured on video obtained by Fox 13.

Bystanders, other students, and the girl’s boyfriend attempted to pull her away. The girl’s mother, Zahraa Ali, was also choking the daughter and the girl’s father punched the boyfriend in the face.

A witness, Josh Wagner, told KOMO News he stepped in to break up what he thought was a fight between teens and saw the dad holding his daughter in a chokehold. Wagner said he was able to get the girl loose and hold the father down until police arrived.

Once free, the girl ran into the school screaming, “My dad was trying to kill me, he was trying to kill me,” which triggered a lockdown and stopped the parents from being able to get to their daughter again.

Court documents stated that a prior physical incident with the family forced the school to obtain a temporary protection order against Zarhaa Ali and ban her from school property. The previous physical altercation was part of a string of incidents with the family according to court documents. The girl is now reportedly in a safe place as the investigation continues.

North Thurston Public Schools said in a statement, “We work with families, staff, and law enforcement partners to maintain safety and security on our campuses, and we take student and staff safety extremely seriously. When unique situations arise, we work with concerned parties to provide a safe learning environment, and we are doing so in this case.”