Will There be Justice For Shaima Alawadi?

Shaima Alawadi


How soon we forget.

Do you remember back in March when Shaima Alawadi, an Iraqi mother, was found beaten to death in her home in El Cajon, California (near San Diego)? At the time, all indications were that Shaima was the victim of an anti-Muslim hate crime. Quickly, the case became a cause celebe. Together with the Trayvon Martin case, a national movement spread up called the million hoodie-hijab movement. Reportedly, a note was left near the body telling Muslim "terrorists" to go home. The family also stated that a similar note had been left at their house earlier (They never called the police.) The family held a local service for her, after which, the husband and other family members returned her body to Iraq.

This was my initial posting on the case:

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2012/03/muslim-woman-murdered-near-san-diego.html

Then new details started to come out. It was reported that Shaima was seeking to divorce her husband. It was also reported that there was strife involving one of the daughters, who had a boyfriend the parents did not approve of. There was also an issue with an arranged marriage. It may be assumed that this family was in quite a bit of turmoil prior to the murder.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2126520/One-Million-Hijabs-victim-Shaima-Alawadi-WAS-planning-divorce-husband-Texas.html

That was then. Since then, it appears that the case has dropped off the map. Why have we heard nothing new from police? Isn't there some homicidal racist out there who may strike at any time? What happened to all the hijab/hoodie vigils that were supposed to take place in El Cajon?

In checking the San Diego Union Tribune, the most recent story I can find is this:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/23/family-awaiting-answers-in-iraqi-womans-slaying/




According to the above article, the husband, Kassim Alhimidi, who, with other members of the family, took Shaima's body back to Iraq for burial, has returned from Iraq with his two older children. I guess my obvious question is whether any other family members or friends who went back to Iraq have since returned to the US. (I don't know the answer.)


The point is this: We all want to see justice for Shaima, an innocent murder victim. If this was, indeed, a hate crime, I want to see the perpetrator(s) caught. I am a death penalty advocate, and this would be a case that calls for the death penalty if that's the case. The same applies if this was carried out by a member of the family as some sort of honor killing. When the initial belief was that this was a hate crime, it was a national issue. Now it has all fallen silent. Does anyone reading this see the hypocrisy?


I do think this case will be solved. It must be.