FBI Puts “Honor Killing” Suspect on Wanted List

In what may be the first such listing, the FBI is seeking the capture of Yaser Abdel Said for a double “honor killing.” Muslim groups are opposed to the use of the term, but the evidence appears to support the theory that the killings were due to the father’s “shame” that his daughters Sarah Said, 17, and Amina, 18, were dating non-Muslims. Both were killed on New Year’s Day in the back of his taxi cab.

The girls’ great-aunt, Gail Gartrell, supports the view of the FBI, saying that the father killed the girls because he felt they disgraced the family by dating non-Muslims and acting too Western, and she called the girls’ murders an honor killing from the start.
Mustafaa Carroll, the executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations in Dallas, objects and insists that “As far as we’re concerned, until the motive is proven in a court of law, this is [just] a homicide.” It is hard to imagine what the alternative theory would be since self-defense seems a bit of a stretch and family members have said that the killing was due to the shaming of the father. Police routinely describe murders when such evidence is present, such as heat-of-passion killings, contract killings etc. It helps local authorities appraise the likely behavior, movements, and danger of the suspect.

CAIR’s public position is not likely to be helpful for Muslims. While CAIR has presumably denounced honor killings and this individual, this is what will be reported nationally.
For the FBI posting, click here.