NOT GUILTY WA - Parents try to kidnap daughter over forced marriage - November 3, 2024 (NG of attempted murder; Guilty of lesser charges)

[Seattle1]

"IHSAN ALI"

ATTEMPTED MURDER 2ND DEGREE
ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING 2ND DEGREE
ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING 1ST DEGREE
ASSAULT 4TH DEGREE
ASSAULT 2ND DEGREE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

https://www.co.thurston.wa.us/cm/sheriff/bureau-corrections-roster-search.asp?mod=third&idnum=Z0090135

 

[Seattle1]

DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS​

DAY 8 – 7/24/25​

• VIDEO: WA v. Ihsan & Zahrra Ali, Day 8 | Attempted ‘Honor Killing’ Trial
• . Attorneys met to discuss jury instructions and verdict form.
  • Both sides debated Zahraa Ali’s knowledge of her husband’s actions during the incident
  • Judge found sufficient evidence for second-degree assault and revised instructions to include Fatima’s name.
  • Disagreements arose regarding the inclusion of accomplice instructions for Ihsan Ali.
  • There were discussions surrounding the definition of assault, with video evidence referenced by counsel.
  • Judge allowed instructions for assault in the fourth degree after reviewing relevant case law.
  • Multiple jury instructions were reviewed and approved, with various name changes made.
  • The state attempted to amend the indictment after the presentation of evidence concluded.
  • A motion was made to add a notice of Domestic Violence to the Unlawful Imprisonment charge.
  • The Judge permitted the amendment to charges despite the defense’s objections.
  • The existing jury instructions remained unchanged following the amendments.
  • Defense attorneys entered not guilty pleas on behalf of their clients following revisions in the indictment.

 

[Ladyotm]

I hope the jury gets it right in this case. I don't like that Fatima's reason for not wanting to go to Iraqi - possible forced marriage and being the victim of an honor killing- weren't allowed as evidence.

However, testimony about her disobeying her parents no dating rule, running away, and talking back the day of the incident, were all allowed. Has this painted her as an unruly, disobedient teen to some jurors?

She was so afraid of what she thought was going to happen to her, she ran away from home to stay in a shelter. She was intercepted and violently attacked by her parents, in front of both her peers and strangers. She suffered physical and emotional trauma. I watched the video. Her father attacked her like she was a criminal on the street. I have no doubt he is capable of ending her life. MOO.

I hope she gets far, far away from these people. And I hope she heals completely and goes on to have a wonderful life.

 

[Seattle1]

I hope the jury gets it right in this case. I don't like that Fatima's reason for not wanting to go to Iraqi - possible forced marriage and being the victim of an honor killing- weren't allowed as evidence.

However, testimony about her disobeying her parents no dating rule, running away, and talking back the day of the incident, were all allowed. Has this painted her as an unruly, disobedient teen to some jurors?

She was so afraid of what she thought was going to happen to her, she ran away from home to stay in a shelter. She was intercepted and violently attacked by her parents, in front of both her peers and strangers. She suffered physical and emotional trauma. I watched the video. Her father attacked her like she was a criminal on the street. I have no doubt he is capable of ending her life. MOO.

I hope she gets far, far away from these people. And I hope she heals completely and goes on to have a wonderful life.

I have hope. Thurston County, WA (and its jurors) is very evolved. It's home to the State Capital, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), known for being a large, strategic military installation in the Pacific Northwest, serving as a major training and mobilization center for all branches of the U.S. military.

I remember when this incident was first reported on the news, there were Timberline HS students yelling at the defendant in his native language. In other words, there's a population/community of Arabs/Middle Eastern residents in Lacey, and the county where the culture is not unknown. Students at the school also knew to look out for FA.

If I have any concern, it was probably FA's testimony about her mother, ZA. Why was she protecting her? IMO, ZA was very much the aggressor here-- and also responsible for sending the father to track his daughter down at school.

ZA believed it was the American boyfriend causing the trouble when the trouble here was the unevolved idea that their daughter was void of any choice in her adult life, including her life partner!

MOO

 

[damnitmyradio]

Trial of Lacey parents in alleged 'honor killing' plot resumes with testimony from police

Testimony in the trial of two Lacey parents accused of attempting to kill their daughter in a possible "honor killing" continued Tuesday morning in court.

komonews.com

7/15/25

On Tuesday, jurors heard from the victim in this case for the first time as she described the day her father attacked her outside Timberline High School in October 2024.

The victim described to the jury the day her dad attacked her she was supposed to leave for Iraq, a trip she said she didn’t want to take because she felt unsafe and was afraid she would never be able to return to the U.S.

[...]

Court records reveal that the teenager had been threatened with an "honor killing" by her father after she refused to travel abroad to Iraq for an arranged marriage with an older man.

"No matter what I say it doesn’t really change," the victim testified in court, explaining why she did not tell her parents she did not want to go back to Iraq.

During testimony, the victim described how she ran away from home early that morning, packing up her things and leaving home with just $100. She told the jury she went to a place where she felt safe, which was at school.

She then went to speak with her old counselor at Timberline High School who helped arrange a safe place to stay at a non-profit and was heading to that youth residential center when her father confronted her near the bus stop outside the school and began choking her.
__________________

ETA: Take note the allegation by the victim (Fatima) that she was ever threatened with an "honor killing" by her father has not been admitted as evidence in this trial.

This is so sad, she did all the right things. How did the family members catch her there?

 

[Seattle1]

This is so sad, she did all the right things. How did the family members catch her there?

IMO, it was the most logical place for them to look given the following:

FA was 17 and a Senior at Timberline HS. The defendants allege they learned FA was dating-- which wasn't allowed-- and after talking to Mr. Barnes (father of FA's bf), they pulled FA out of in-person school attendance in September-- shortly after the school year began. They also allege they wanted to take FA to Iraq on the date of the incident-- to get her away from her local bf.

When Mr. Barnes learned the school had a no trespassing order against the defendants, he became concerned for his son's safety and sought and received a protection order for his juvenile son from defendant ZA.

On the date of the subject incident, FA was no longer enrolled at Timberline HS (online classes only), she packed a bag with her clothes and left home at 4 AM-- eventually meeting with her former school counselor, explained her situation why she left home, and the counselor assisted FA to find shelter at a youth facility.

However, before FA could leave Timberline HS and reach the shelter, her parents had reported FA missing to the police. They also contacted Mr. Barnes, seeking to find FA at his home. Mr. Barnes assured them FA was not his residence, and advised them that both of his children were at school, and he'd not seen their daughter. Mr. Barnes testified he left a message for his son that FA's parents had contacted him, FA had been reported missing to police, and her parents were looking for her.

 

[Seattle1]

I think it's important to note that FA is now age 18. Regardless of the outcome of this trial, she is free of their legal control and influence to make a good life for herself. I hope she will finish her education and further her studies in Math & Science-- subjects she testified she liked and excelled in.

Also, Timberline students would get out around 2pm, and if parents did not transport, some students would also take the same inter-city bus FA was attempting to board when her father yanked her off by grabbing her hood.

 

[Izzylizzy]

New to the case but I gather the jury saw this footage ?
Did the judge not let in that the parents had a one way trip to Iraq for an arranged marriage for their daughter as hearsay?

 

[Izzylizzy]

Live
Jury instructions and closings

 

[kuromiiiilove]

This case is so sad and scary. I sincerely hope the correct verdict is passed down, and more importantly, that FA is ok moving forward.

Anecdotally, I grew up with a friend whose father was from Iraq. I think FA was right to not go back. When my friend was around 16-17 and starting to be interested in boys, cute clothes, etc., her father took her back to Iraq against her (American) mothers will, where him and his brothers attempted an honor killing.

Her uncles wife helped her escape, but my friend came back to the US beaten with a broken arm, and psychologically broken. She has struggled for years after with self worth and poor decisions (as a result of trauma, not blaming her at all). She is now almost 30 and finally stable. As far as I know, her father remained in Iraq after that and was never charged in any crime.

I hope FA has the support to live a healthy and happy life. I can’t imagine how complicated it is at 17 to ‘lose’ your parents if they do go to prison, regardless of the reason why.

Come on, jury. You got this.

All MOO/my experience

 

[Seattle1]

New to the case but I gather the jury saw this footage ?
Did the judge not let in that the parents had a one way trip to Iraq for an arranged marriage for their daughter as hearsay?

No, the alleged honor killing and forced marriage details were ruled inadmissible at trial.

The defendants allege they were trying to separate FA from her local boyfriend. FA testified the trip to Iraq was to obtain passports for her brothers, and she ran away because she was afraid she would not return to the States if she traveled to Iraq with them.

• On the morning of October 18, 2024, Fatima Ali ran away from home because she did not want to travel to Iraq with her mom and her siblings. Fatima told jurors that she packed up all her clothes and hygiene products and took $100 from her mom before she left her home. She acknowledged that she was aware they were traveling to obtain Iraqi passports for her younger brothers.
  • WATCH: Fatima Ali: Parents Planned Iraq Trip to Separate Me From My Boyfriend
• Jurors were shown images of injuries to “Isiah’s” face following the incident outside of his school, where he was attempting to protect his girlfriend, Fatima.
  • WATCH: Fatima Ali’s Boyfriend’s Father: ‘We Did Not Want Them Dating’
• Fatima and Isiah had been dating for a year before Fatima’s family found out she was dating, which is against the rules in her household.
• Ihsan and Zahraa Ali withdrew Fatima from high school during her senior year and enrolled her in online courses because she had been skipping school, and to keep her away from Isiah.

 

[Izzylizzy]

No, the alleged honor killing and forced marriage details were ruled inadmissible at trial.

The defendants allege they were trying to separate FA from her local boyfriend. FA testified the trip to Iraq was to obtain passports for her brothers, and she ran away because she was afraid she would not return to the States if she traveled to Iraq with them.

Thank you for the backstory.
She most likely wouldn't have returned to the US had she gone to Iraq, though I could see her passport flying back w/o her.
Did the sister testify?
She's a brave young woman and hopefully she's surrounded by caring, smart advocates.
imo

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

It doesn't make sense to me as an American because killing one's daughter for disobedience isn't what anyone would do (or at least very few). There is utter disregard for women in some cultures, women aren't viewed as human, in other words. And clearly the poor girl's mother isn't any better.

There are many Americans who kill their daughters for all kinds of reasons, including disobedience. It's all over this board. They may not call it "honor killings," but it's no less horrific and tragic.

 

[Seattle1]

WA v. Ihsan & Zahraa Ali: Attempted "Honor Killing" Trial

UPDATE: Jury deliberations are underway in the trial of Ihsan Ali and Zahraa Ali, accused of attempting to kill their daughter.

www.courttv.com

According to court documents, Ihsan had recently threatened his daughter with an “honor killing.”

The girl’s parents found her on the school campus as she walked with her 16-year-old boyfriend to a bus stop. Witnesses say Ihsan punched the boyfriend and placed his daughter in a chokehold until she lost consciousness. Witnesses captured cellphone video of multiple bystanders punching Ihsan and pulling him off his daughter.


Court documents reveal that her mother, Zahraa, had been banned from the school campus about a month prior for allegedly trying to grab the girl’s boyfriend. Both parents remain in custody while awaiting trial.

 

[Seattle1]

Thank you for the backstory.
She most likely wouldn't have returned to the US had she gone to Iraq, though I could see her passport flying back w/o her.
Did the sister testify?
She's a brave young woman and hopefully she's surrounded by caring, smart advocates.
imo

Sister did appear at Timberline HS in the background, but she was not charged. I don't recall her testifying at trial. Defense rested without calling any witnesses.

 

[turaj]

I have a sense that many jury members understand what was going on with the departure back to iraq etc. They may not have heard it is court but they know. Someone above mentioned about her now being 18 and finding her way...wow that is not going to be easy . What if any funds does she have to continue education? For living? Where will she go. Are there any family willing to protect her and have her live with them. Don't know much about that but 18 is young to have no immediate family support.

 

[Izzylizzy]

The defense opened with the 53 sec violent event and that Mr. Ali was laying "unconscious".
Was that proven during the trial?

 

[Lilibet]

I have a sense that many jury members understand what was going on with the departure back to iraq etc. They may not have heard it is court but they know. Someone above mentioned about her now being 18 and finding her way...wow that is not going to be easy . What if any funds does she have to continue education? For living? Where will she go. Are there any family willing to protect her and have her live with them. Don't know much about that but 18 is young to have no immediate family support.

BBM

The “honor killing” may still be on the table if other family members agree with her parents. And the trial has brought even more “dishonor” to her family. I hope she can get help outside her family and “disappear.”

 

[Izzylizzy]

Does anyone know FA's status in the US.​

She does have a passport so she's not here on a Visa.

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[Seattle1]

I have a sense that many jury members understand what was going on with the departure back to iraq etc. They may not have heard it is court but they know. Someone above mentioned about her now being 18 and finding her way...wow that is not going to be easy . What if any funds does she have to continue education? For living? Where will she go. Are there any family willing to protect her and have her live with them. Don't know much about that but 18 is young to have no immediate family support.

FA came to America at age 6. She's more assimilated to the life of a U.S. teen than any other life, and IMO, why she was willing to fight her keep her life as she dreamed it could and should be.

As a victim of crime, she's likely had much state financial support. Her case made news globally-- once the trial is over, she may have already made a book or Netflix/Movie deal.

Also, there are many American born youth who are set out of the family home at age 18 to find their own way! In cases of the death of a parent, Social Security stops paying benefits at age 18. And in divorce, child support typically ends at age 18 or at HS graduation, whichever occurs first.

Washington | State Support | OVC