http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=162252Dead girl was 'scared of her father': friendAqsa Parvez; Allegedly killed for refusing to wear hijab
Chris Wattie, National Post
Published: Wednesday, December 12, 2007
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Ebonie MitchellAqsa Parvez
A cab driver has been charged with murdering his 16-year-old daughter after she was allegedly attacked in a clash 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 on 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 suburban home in Mississauga early on Monday morning by a man who told 911 operators he had killed his daughter. They found Ms. 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 yesterday.
Constable J.P. Valade would not give any details about the teenager's killing, but police sources said she was choked.
Const. 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. At least 11 people lived at the family's large, two-storey brick house in a new subdivision in Mississauga.
Police cleared out the home yesterday to begin a detailed forensic sweep through the house.
Last night, it was reported that the brother was charged after allegedly misleading officers at the scene.
Friends of the girl told the National Post that 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.
"She got threatened by her father and her brother. He said that if she leaves, he would kill her."
Her classmates said Ms. Parvez had been staying with a friend because of tension at home and returned on Monday only to retrieve some clothing.
A memorial table was set up at the front of her school yesterday where friends of the slain teenager could write their memories, put up pictures, leave flowers and mementos.
"Aqsa was honestly the brightest girl around," one student wrote. "She had the biggest smile and was the happiest person in school. She loved to dance and take pictures."
Sylvia Link, a spokeswoman for the Peel District School Board, said officials are looking into the case to see if there was anything they could have done to help Ms. Parvez or students in similar situations. "We want to see what we can learn from this tragedy," she said.
Several Canadian Muslim groups condemned the attack on the teenager.
"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.
"The strangulation death of Ms. Parvez was the result of domestic violence, a problem that cuts across Canadian society and is blind to colour or creed."
"We call for the strongest possible prosecution of Ms. Parvez's alleged attacker," said Faisal Kutty, the legal counsel for the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Topic: Toronto Muslim man murders 16 yr old daughter for not wearing hijab (Read 14833 times)