BCSO: Runaway local teen was abused with hot oil, broomsticks for refusing arranged marriage

By Jacob Beltran
Updated 9:41 am, Saturday, March 24, 2018


Photo: Jacob Beltran /San Antonio Express-News

Hamdiyah Sabah Alhishmawi, 35, is facing at least one felony count of continuous family violence, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. He says the FBI may also add charges of their own.


A 16-year-old Iraqi girl who went missing in January has been found, but her parents are now facing child abuse charges.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Maarib Alhishmawi, who was found in mid-March, told Child Protective Services of abuse at the hands of her parents. She told authorities that her parents poured hot cooking oil on her and hit her with broomsticks when she objected to an arranged marriage.

"At least at one point she was choked almost to the point of unconsciousness," Salazar said. Adding that both parents took part in the abuse.

Her father, Abdulah Fahmi Kala Alhishmawi, 34, and mother, Hamdiyah Sabah Alhishmawi, 33, are each facing at least one felony count of continuous family violence, according to Salazar.

"I believe it was the female suspect, the mother, that at one point actually threw hot cooking oil on her because she was refusing to take part in this marriage," Salazar said.

He said the FBI may also add charges of their own.

Salazar said the teen’s parents had arranged a marriage between her and an adult man from another city.

Salazar said investigators believe the arranged marriage is one of reasons Maarib Alhishmawi left home. The details were being worked out in late 2017. Salazar said a price of $20,000 was to be paid to the family was part of the marriage arrangements.

"It's highly likely that he'll be facing charges as well," Salazar said of the intended groom.

The sheriff said Maarib had been safely in the care of another organization while she was missing. He did not name the group.

Maarib and her five siblings, who are between 5 and 15 years old, are now in CPS care, Salazar said. He said it is unknown at the moment if the other siblings have also been abused.

Officials said the family had been in the United States for two years on visas. The type of visas not immediately known.

As seen in local news reports, while the two suspects were being led away in handcuffs from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, the father could be heard shouting to media, blaming the daughter for the situation.

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