Father Kills Daughter Over Hijab

[FSTargetDrone]

Story in full:

Dad charged after daughter killed in clash over hijab

Friends say father disapproved of Western dress

Chris Wattie, National Post Published: Tuesday, December 11, 2007

TORONTO -- A Mississauga, Ont., cab driver has been charged with the murder of his 16-year-old daughter, who was attacked in the family home after clashing with her strict Muslim family over whether or not to wear the hijab, the traditional Islamic head scarf for women.

Muhammad Parvez, 57, was charged after his daughter Aqsa Parvez died in hospital late Monday.

The victim's older brother Waqas Parvez, was charged with obstructing police in connection with the girl's death.

Police were called to a home in Mississauga early Monday morning by a man who told 911 operators that he had killed his daughter.

They found Aqsa Parvez lying motionless on the floor of her bedroom, to all appearances dead, but paramedics found a faint pulse and rushed her to hospital. The teenager succumbed to her injuries several hours later, police said Tuesday.

Const. J.P. Valade would not give any details about the teenager's killing, but police sources said she was strangled.

Friends of the girl said she had left the family home, where her brothers also lived with their families, about a week before the attack because of arguments with her father and brothers over her refusal to wear traditional Muslim garb, including the hijab.

"She was scared of her father: He was always controlling her," said Dominiquia Holmes-Thompson, a friend and classmate at Applewood Heights Secondary School, where both were Grade 11 students. "She wasn't allowed to go out or do anything: That's why she left."

Valade would not comment on the possible motive for the killing, but said detectives are continuing to interview neighbours and friends of the girl as well as members of her extended family.

Canadian Muslim groups on Tuesday condemned the attack.

"There should be zero tolerance for violence of any kind against women or girls," said Shahina Siddiqui, the president of the Islamic Social Services Association.

Faisal Kutty, the legal counsel for the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, said: We call for the strongest possible prosecution of Ms. Parvez's alleged attacker."

Sylvia Link, a spokeswoman for the Peel District School Board, said grief counsellors have been sent to the school to help Aqsa's classmates deal with the incident.

The flag outside the school was flown at half-mast and a memorial table was set up at the school where friends of the slain teen could write their memories, display pictures, leave flowers and mementos.

Link said school officials are also looking into the case to see if there was anything they could have done to help Aqsa or students in similar situations.

"We want to see what we can learn from this tragedy," she said.

Valade said police and prosecutors have not yet decided whether to charge the dead girl's father with first- or second-degree murder, but they have until the beginning of his preliminary hearing to make that decision.

Parvez is scheduled to appear in a Brampton court today on a bail hearing.

National Post

He killed his own daughter, he strangled her to death, because he didn't like the way she was dressing. Better dead than defiant, I suppose...

I love religion, yes I do. I love religion. Why can't you?

[FSTargetDrone]

Related opinion piece about the hijab and Muslim women:

The deadly face of Muslim extremism

Tarek Fatah and Farzana Hassan, National Post Published: Wednesday, December 12, 2007

The tragic death of a Mississauga, Ont., teenage girl -- allegedly at the hands of her own traditionally minded Muslim father -- has sent shock waves across the world. Canadians are justified in raising concerns as to whether this is a sign of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in their own backyard.

Aqsa Parvez, a sprightly 16-year-old, beloved of her friends and peers at Applewood Heights Secondary School, was only trying to be herself, was only wishing for a normal adolescence amid Canada's rich cultural mosaic. Her father has now been charged with murder, and his son with obstruction, while a young life has been snuffed out -- likely in the name of honour and Islam.

Radical Muslim men consider themselves ultimately responsible for the conduct of the womenfolk. This outlook is rooted in a medieval ethos that treats women as nonpersons, unable to decide for themselves what they should wear, where they must go and what they must accomplish in life. If their conduct is seen as contravening this austere religious outlook, they are invariably subjected to abuse.

The hijab in particular has become a thorny issue among Muslim families. It has been elevated as a sort of "sixth pillar of Islam" among militant sects. Young teenage girls are often lectured over the virtues of the hijab by their family members. Once they hit puberty, compliance is deemed a non-negotiable religious requirement.

Yet none of this is actually mandated by the Koran. The Koran, while speaking generally of modesty in dress and demeanour, falls short of specifying the details of that modesty. Scripture also makes allowances for non-compliance of religious edicts if the environment is not conducive to their observance.

The Koran exhorts compassion upon parents, caretakers and guardians of young girls. Yet some families instead exhibit a strict conformity to doctrine and dogma, which in turn leads to violence, bigotry and intolerance of alternative understandings of faith.

There is much discussion in Canadian society about the religious freedoms of those who choose to wear the hijab. We hear relatively little about the oppression of young girls who make the opposite choice. Seldom is their oppression from within their own community, or even their own family, cast as a human rights issue.

If convicted, Aqsa's father and brother must be handed the strictest penalty available under the law. As for the imams and clergy of Canada's mosques, who constantly berate young women for not wearing the hijab or snub them for "violating Islam," they need to reflect on the consequences of their sermons.

Consider, as an example, the Montreal mosque that recently posted on its Web site a warning to the effect that if young girls took off their hijab, they could end up getting raped and having "illegitimate children." Other proffered risks included "Stresses, insecurity and suspicion in the minds of husbands" and "instigating young people to deviate towards the path of lust."

As if the threat of rape and the fear of illegitimate children were not enough, these pre-teen girls were told that if they took off their hijab, they would cease to be Muslims: "By removing your hijab, you have destroyed your faith. Islam means submission to Allah in all our actions." Little wonder then, that Canadian girls walk away from sports tournaments rather than remove their hijabs.

Muslims need to stand up to this sort of emotional and religious blackmail by imams who spread the competing agendas of Saudi Arabia and Iran into Canada. Young Aqsa Pervez's death cannot be reversed. But in her memory, we can at least challenge those whose message leads to rage and madness.

-- Tarek Fatah is author of Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State, to be published by Wiley & Sons in March, 2008. Farzana Hassan is author of Islam, Women, and the Challenges of Today. Both are members of the Muslim Canadian Congress(mcc@muslimcongress.ca).

[Aaron]

I just saw this on the news. Apperently the parents had issues with her dress aside from the head scarf and that she liked to dance. So naturally the only reasonable response is to choke her to death, I mean that's what you'd do right?

[Vympel]

I have nothing to add, save that I thought "Hijab" was "Handjob".

[Phantasee]

I just saw this on the news. Apperently the parents had issues with her dress aside from the head scarf and that she liked to dance. So naturally the only reasonable response is to choke her to death, I mean that's what you'd do right?

Hey man, that's responsible parenting!

I have nothing to add, save that I thought "Hijab" was "Handjob".

That's how it would have been back in the old days, though. Either that or a wedding.

[Durandal]

Ah, the religion of peace strikes again. With peacefulness.

[hongi]

Islam is a religion of peace. Because after killing everyone, there tends to be 'peace' and 'stability'.

[Lonestar]

What's the thought process behind "Hey, the same asinine dark ages mentality from my shithole of a mother country are just as applicable here in the civilized one I've emigrated to?"

For the matter, it must have crossed his mind at some fucking point that his kid was going to be infected by Evil Western Ideals(tm), so why did he stay in the country? Not that, you know, it would be more acceptable anywhere else, I'm just curious what the logic train is here.

[Tiriol]

What's the thought process behind "Hey, the same asinine dark ages mentality from my shithole of a mother country are just as applicable here in the civilized one I've emigrated to?"

For the matter, it must have crossed his mind at some fucking point that his kid was going to be infected by Evil Western Ideals(tm), so why did he stay in the country? Not that, you know, it would be more acceptable anywhere else, I'm just curious what the logic train is here.

I'd guess that hopes for better economical situation would be the reason for moving to a Western country; and/or having to flee from one's own country of origin. Both reasons are not incompatible with refusal to accept new cultural background and norms.

Of course, it might be possible that insufficient introduction to and teaching of the new country's culture and laws (be they insufficient for whatever reason) might have led the man in question (and many similar persons) to conclude that his current country would share the original's set of laws and code of conduct.

[Aaron]

I'd guess that hopes for better economical situation would be the reason for moving to a Western country; and/or having to flee from one's own country of origin. Both reasons are not incompatible with refusal to accept new cultural background and norms.

I believe they said he's from Pakistan, I'd leave too. Especially if I lived in the boonies.

Of course, it might be possible that insufficient introduction to and teaching of the new country's culture and laws (be they insufficient for whatever reason) might have led the man in question (and many similar persons) to conclude that his current country would share the original's set of laws and code of conduct.

Umm no. A simple glance around town would have noted the distinct lack of religious garb. Add to that: CTV News at 2300 on 12 Dec implied that she had been born in Canada, so he's been here at least 16 years. That's plenty of time to notice that Canada doesn't share the same laws and traditions of his home country.

[brianeyci]

This isn't meant to start a flamewar but just giving you guys some insight.

You leave the "old country" and consider the old country your "country." You never really integrate, because there's never a need to. When you come over, you hang around your ethnic community, Chinatowns, Indiatowns, Mosques, whatever there is, and make no effort to learn about the native culture. You speak in your own language under the guise of "preserving your culture" and insist on inflicting another country's language on your children as their first language, nevermind you're living here and your children will live here. You make haphazard attempts to keep your culture alive: send kids to Saturday school, etc., while making no attempt to understand the natives. You usually talk in nostalgia about your "country" about how you're just getting enough money to go back, because you're sending money back home.

This causes an identity crisis, as children at school live in a totally different environment than at home. Parenting in these cultures is not about sharing feelings or communication: it's about authority, they talk, you listen. If you get bad grades for example, you do not tell your parents about it because they'd get angry and consider you a failure. If you get bullied, you do not tell your parents about it, because they wouldn't know how to approach the principal or teachers anyway. Any and every problem you encounter they are likely to consider trivial. The rift only grows larger, and by the time the kid's fifteen or so, they have either zero in common with their parents, or they live a "double life" which they can't share with their parents at all because they wouldn't understand.

And to make it worse, the expectations for success are very high because their parents sacrificed everything to come over: if you do not succeed at school, which is absolutely not a given (not everybody can be a doctor or a lawyer or a professional) then the parent is likely to disown you. The worst part is they have such high expectations but they have no idea how to help their kids, because they weren't raised in this school system, don't know the language and are likely poorly educated themselves (this guy was a taxicab driver.)

The problem did not start with hijab. The problem had to be happening for years, from the moment the dad decided he didn't want to assimilate and wanted to keep his old culture alive at all costs.

[Justforfun000]

Obviously the average muslim does not kill their children for disobeying them. What's really disgusting is that as the article above says, the hijab isn't even MANDATED by the religion. I'd hate to see what would happen if they defied the actual commands.

I'm very glad the muslim organizations here in Canada came forward and strongly condemned the murder. This is very important and will hopefully make it clear to other families that this is NOT sanctioned by Islam.

*sigh*. I guess it's like the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water....
Unfortunately some people just do not take advantage of the country they moved to. One this man should have understood is that in Canada, his daughter has JUST as many rights as he does, and if she wanted to say "fuck you Dad, I'm renouncing my religion and gang-banging 5 college students on the weekend", he really can't do a damn things about it. There is a price to pay for living in a secular country.

[brianeyci]

Wrong.

He sure can do almost whatever he wants. She was still a minor. Parents have... I don't remember the legal term, but complete authority over their children. If he hadn't lost his cool, hadn't killed her, he could've made her life a living hell and the law couldn't do anything about it, at all. If I was a dad and I didn't like my daughter fucking a dozen guys, well, there's plenty of completely legal and powerful means to discourage that behavior. Not to mention any dad would be concerned about reckless action like that. Dads can even go after their daughters for wearing skimpy clothes, believe it or not.

The problem isn't that he can or can't do stuff to his children. The only thing that will work is letting in the right sorts of people, who are coming for more than just the money and have an interest in assimilating.

Of course that would be way too much work... much easier for immigration officer to use a broken piece of shit "point" scale and compare liquid in bank accounts than to pick a needle in a haystack who will make a good Canadian.

Also I don't see why you let Muslims "off" because the Koran doesn't mandate this or that. The Bible doesn't mandate anti-abortion or anti-stem cell research, and Christians who oppose that are still responsible for their actions. It's a very dangerous game, and rather stupid, to accept an ancient text as an authority at all, because once you do you're making a huge concession. As far as I'm concerned mentioning that the holy text doesn't order this or that is a red herring.

[Aaron]

The term your looking for is "legal guardian".

[brianeyci]

No, I think there's another name... a latin term, that doesn't just apply for parents to minors but whenever any person has a shitload of power over another and can speak for them and can do almost anything they want to them.

Which is a shame since I would really like a way to put it in black and white, fathers cannot force daughters to wear hijab, but let's face it, if the dad wants her to wear it no law will stop him from fucking her up a million ways. He's got the money and the daughter doesn't... she was lucky this time in that she has a place to stay outside the family home, but most daughters wouldn't. She made the mistake of underestimating her dad and going back.

A Muslim girl talked to me once... she was lesbian, and left and came back after she apologized... she's waiting to play her dad for as much money as she can then she's bolting again after she finds a new lover. But the point is, whoever has the money has the real control. The dad's working, a minor isn't, and there's no way to legislate good parenting.

[Archon]

Paterfamilias.

Is that the word you are looking for?

[chitoryu12]

No, I think there's another name... a latin term, that doesn't just apply for parents to minors but whenever any person has a shitload of power over another and can speak for them and can do almost anything they want to them.

In loco.....something, I think. My Latin isn't too good as of late.

[Gandalf]

No, I think there's another name... a latin term, that doesn't just apply for parents to minors but whenever any person has a shitload of power over another and can speak for them and can do almost anything they want to them.

In loco.....something, I think. My Latin isn't too good as of late.

In loco parentis?

[Enigma]

The parents do not have complete control over her. She's 16 and that would enable to legally fuck anyone she wants no matter what that person's age is and she does have say in medical matters. From what I understand is that a child starts to have more control over themselves at the age of 14.

What I don't think helps as per the OP is Canada's multiculturalism. No culture has dominance in this country. There is no incentive to stick to the nation's main culture when by law it is not allowed to have one.

Going by memory maybe those from Toronto can correct me or not but it isn't good for the country when you have 2nd or 3rd generation people from immigrants don't even speak either English or French. I am saying this because I heard from the radio of a delegate from Denmark was surprised to find kids at a Toronto school not able to speak either official languages and that there are people that are able to function in the country without english of french.

[Stuart Mackey]

snip
What I don't think helps as per the OP is Canada's multiculturalism. No culture has dominance in this country. There is no incentive to stick to the nation's main culture when by law it is not allowed to have one.

Going by memory maybe those from Toronto can correct me or not but it isn't good for the country when you have 2nd or 3rd generation people from immigrants don't even speak either English or French. I am saying this because I heard from the radio of a delegate from Denmark was surprised to find kids at a Toronto school not able to speak either official languages and that there are people that are able to function in the country without english of french.

I think that a lot of the trouble comes from 'multiculturalism' effectively becoming cultural and social separatism where it was once a mere expression of, and desire for, tolerance of difference. What you get now seems to be the opposite of that, with the existence of another culture and its practices in close proximity being seen as some kind of threat, insult, imposition or dominance of another. The Mohammed cartoon fiasco is a good eample.

[Darth Wong]

Indeed. To assail multiculturalism for the results of racial separatism is pure absurdity. For that matter, the sheer alarmism generated by this crime is absurd too; Toronto has five million fucking people living in it, and oh no, they just had one Islamic dress-code related murder. The sky is falling! We have to change our entire way of life and discard the whole notion of multi-culturalism! Fucking idiots.

At the end of the day, the people who think this disproves the idea of multi-culturalism were people who disliked multi-culturalism anyway, and who find this to be a convenient excuse for their demagoguery.

[Enigma]

Indeed. To assail multiculturalism for the results of racial separatism is pure absurdity. For that matter, the sheer alarmism generated by this crime is absurd too; Toronto has five million fucking people living in it, and oh no, they just had one Islamic dress-code related murder. The sky is falling! We have to change our entire way of life and discard the whole notion of multi-culturalism! Fucking idiots.

At the end of the day, the people who think this disproves the idea of multi-culturalism were people who disliked multi-culturalism anyway, and who find this to be a convenient excuse for their demagoguery.

I have no problems with multiculturalism in itself, but I do not like it when it is entrenched in law so that the nation in itself. There should be at least a culture that everyone can adopt yet still retain their own instead of each culture isolated from each other.

We don't have a single identity that defines us as Canada by law, having multiculturalism entrenched in law gives us a schizophrenic identity.

[hongi]

What is this single identity that defines Canada? What makes a Canadian a Canadian?

[brianeyci]

The parents do not have complete control over her. She's 16 and that would enable to legally fuck anyone she wants no matter what that person's age is and she does have say in medical matters. From what I understand is that a child starts to have more control over themselves at the age of 14.

I was careful to say "almost" and it rather misses my point: at 16, you do not have the resources to take care of yourself, and your dad can make life a living hell. The legality does not matter: the parent has complete control, unless you are a very lucky and mature sixteen year old.

I don't think multiculturalism is the problem either. Multiculturalism is tolerance of other cultures, and if daddy had tolerance for whatever culture his daughter was a part of, he wouldn't have killed her. Multiculturalism has to go both ways. If we had a very specific national identity like French... arguably you can say the French have a defined culture... then maybe you'd have a point. A weak national identity is perfect for Canada... we don't face geographical invasion from any of our neighbors, so there's no need for nationalism.

[Darth Wong]

I have no problems with multiculturalism in itself, but I do not like it when it is entrenched in law so that the nation in itself.

Exactly which laws do you plan on repealing in order to achieve your Glorious New Uniform Canada?

There should be at least a culture that everyone can adopt yet still retain their own instead of each culture isolated from each other.

We don't have a single identity that defines us as Canada by law, having multiculturalism entrenched in law gives us a schizophrenic identity.

Oh that's just a brilliant idea: actually allow fucking politicians to define Canadian culture in law

Did it ever occur to you that culture defines itself? The very idea of the government determining culture is asinine beyond belief.