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Long-Suspected Hate Crime Solved? Husband Arrested in Brutal Killing of Calif. Iraqi Woman

Nov. 10, 2012 4:13pm Erica Ritz

EL CAJON, Calif. (TheBlaze/AP) — Eight months after the killing of an Iraqi-American woman that drew international attention because it appeared to be a hate crime, the woman’s husband has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Police in the San Diego suburb of El Cajon announced the arrest Friday of Kassim Alhimidi, 48, and described the killing as an act of domestic violence.

The March killing of 32-year-old Shaima Alawadi made waves around the world after the couple’s 17-year-old daughter told reporters that she found a note by her mother’s bludgeoned, bloody body that read: “Go back to your country, you terrorist.”

Kassim Alhimidi Arrested in Killing of Iraqi Woman in California | Once Suspected to Be a Hate Crime

Kassim Alhimidi, right, speaks alongside his son, Mohammed Alhimidi, during a memorial for his wife, Shaima Alawadi at a mosque Tuesday, March 27, 2012, in Lakeside, Calif. (Photo: AP)

But the case took a wholly different direction on Thursday when Alhimidi was taken into custody after being called into the police station, said El Cajon Police Chief Jim Redman, who declined to comment on the evidence or elaborate on a possible motive but said there were no other suspects.

“Criminal investigations build, evidence builds, and you reach a point where you have enough evidence to move forward, and that’s what happened in this case,” he said.

Alhimidi went to Iraq for about two weeks to bury his wife and returned voluntarily, Redman said. Police did not try to prevent him from leaving the country because he was not a suspect at the time.

Mourners carry a coffin draped with Iraqi flags during the funeral procession for Shaima Alawadi in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, March 31, 2012. (Photo: AP)

At the burial in Najaf, relatives wept uncontrollably. Alhimidi and the 17-year-old daughter, Fatima, fainted as the body was lowered into the grave.

Kassim Alhimidi was publicly silent for six days after the body was found, though his children spoke often with reporters. In his first public remarks – made at a news conference at the family’s mosque in Lakeside – he demanded to know what motivated the killer.

“The main question we would like to ask is what are you getting out of this and why did you do it?” Alhimidi said in Arabic as his 15-year-old son translated.

Charges against Alhimidi were expected to be filed Tuesday, said Tanya Sierra, a spokeswoman for the San Diego County district attorney’s office. She didn’t know if Alhimidi had an attorney.

The killing shocked residents of El Cajon, an east San Diego suburb and home to one of the largest enclaves of Iraqi immigrants in the United States.

Relatives of Shaima Alawadi grieve during her funeral in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, March 31, 2012. (Photo: AP)

Police initially said the threatening note meant they had to consider the killing a possible hate crime, but stressed that was only one theory. They said there was other evidence and that the slaying was an isolated case, easing concerns that other immigrants could be targets.

Alawadi, a mother of five, left Iraq in the early 1990s after a failed Shiite uprising. She lived in Saudi Arabian refugee camps before coming to the U.S., according to Imam Husham Al-Husainy of the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center in Dearborn, Mich. Saddam’s troops hanged Alawadi’s uncle.

The family arrived in the Detroit area in 1993 and later moved to San Diego. Shaima Alawadi was a religious Shiite Muslim who wore a hijab.

The investigation appeared to hit a snag when a court employee inadvertently gave a U-T San Diego reporter a search warrant affidavit that a judge had ordered sealed. The document said detectives found a text message sent from the 17-year-old daughter’s cellphone that read, “The detective will find out tell them cnt talk.”

The affidavit, which was released to the newspaper while the family was in Iraq for the burial, showed Fatima Alawadi was upset about a pending arranged marriage to a cousin. She told police that she was in her bedroom when she heard her mother squeal and glass break.

KUSI News has video of a heartbroken Fatima immediately after her mother’s death, where she made it clear she believed the attack was a hate crime:

“We’re not the terrorist, you are. Whoever did it. We don’t know what color you are, but we do know one thing…You are not Christian, you’re not Muslim, and you’re not Jewish, you’re someone without a religion, because if you know God, you would know God would not accept that. You’re an animal…you’re not even an animal,” Fatima said.

The affidavit also said Alawadi wanted to get a divorce and move to Texas.

Redman said detectives were in contact with Kassim Alhimidi during the investigation, but the police chief declined to say what authorities told him when they asked him to come to the police station Thursday.

Redman said he never doubted that Alhimidi would return from Iraq after burying his wife.

“We believe he came back because he lives here,” he said.

(H/T: Gateway Pundit)

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Comments (64)

1_Smoot_Tall
Posted on November 11, 2012 at 11:12am
Maybe Muslims should have to pay a $25 Violence Tax too.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/violence-tax-illinois-county-approves-new-25-fee-on-each-firearm-purchased/

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- kathleenlee
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 2:13pm
  When I first read the headline I thought they were talking about our terrorist marxist traitorous president!!!
  
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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on November 12, 2012 at 4:08am
  Gee didn’t see that one coming…….
  
  9 out of 10 alleged “hate crimes” are self induced. Of course the “chosen people” controlled Marxist Media love to focus on the crimes even when they know they aren’t true, all to make gentiles look bad whenever possible.
  
  Report this comment
1_Smoot_Tall
Posted on November 11, 2012 at 11:08am
I’d love to see Mecca nuked into a field of glass; preferably while several thousand of those boy-lovers are playing ring around the rosy with that ridiculous cube.

So let me get this strait,

They beat them, hide them, refuse to let them vote, refuse to let them go to school, and kill them out of “honor”; but they still cry when they die?

Sure, like I will cry if my car gets totaled or any other possession.

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ronin_6
Posted on November 11, 2012 at 1:23am
Has it really been 8 months since this happened? Wow. We all knew at the time what it was. Bet ya foldin’ money the daughter was in on it.

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FreeUsAll
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:27pm
I truly feel awful for the victim’s daughter. She deserves answers from her father.

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SilentReader
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:26pm
The note blaming someone else fits the narrative of these vile Islamists. They’re always the victim, never the victimizer.

Let’s hope he gets the punishment he deserves. Cowardly killer that he is.

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- wardance
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 5:15am
  Just like they still bleat and carp about the Holy Crusades without telling anyone that their armies mass invaded Christian lands as far north as Southern France. 640 of jihad before the first Crusade was launched but its all our fault. Yeah…right.
  
  Report this comment
- deeberj
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 9:34am
  Wardance, this really irriates me too. Our children are taught in school that the Christians were completely in the wrong for the Crusades. Yes, they did some things wrong, but if we didn’t have the Crusadesto push back the Mulsims, Europe would be Muslim and who knows what would have happened to America.
  
  Report this comment
KangarooJack
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:57pm
.AND there it went…before I even posted….anyway

Can’t have TOO much attention on himself. He did his Duty by offing his wife, yet jeapordizes his real purpose…and the type gets sloooower and slooower…lol

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- hayesstephen
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 12:30am
  Are you on drugs? Your post made no sense.
  
  Report this comment
KangarooJack
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:54pm
Hint-he had to return to the U.S. fast because he is part of a sleeper cell….aww, heck-now watch my computer go nuts! Just stating the obvious-can’t have

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- kindling
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 9:56pm
  He can still do his job while in prison.
  
  Report this comment
MrKnowItAll
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:41pm
I Swear that the first time I watched this exact news story months ago. I knew and I am positive many could see how fake her daughters emotions were. Watch the Video again. About the Middle of her Bad Acting Job. She completely dropped the Crying and Whining for about 8 seconds. Instead of WHOEVER did this. She continuously kept referring the Perpetrator as a MAN.

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- GlezeleVayne
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 4:51am
  Yup. Sounds totally put on to me too. The truth is like a bubble in water. It always rises to the top.
  
  Report this comment
momrules
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:18pm
Amazing. I just went back and looked at the comments regarding Sgt. Bales. The ones that were so eager to convict him and bash those that were defending him haven’t shown up on this story.

I guess just one dead Muslim woman killed by her own husband and the lies told about the case by the Muslims just isn’t very important to them.

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thebronze
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:16pm
The daughter was obviously in on it. She should be arrested too.

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aproudinfidel
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:12pm
Muslims consider me an infidel. I am proud to bear that label. I look at all muslims as terrorists, just as all muslims see me as an infidel and their koran says I should be killed for so being. Sorry if that offends muslims.

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HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:47pm
I wonder when the President will start unsung this terrible hate crime as an excuse?

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stewqq
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:28pm
Look up the word takia, very important word..everyone should know the meaning

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- thebronze
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:15pm
  Taqiyaa
  
  Report this comment
- aproudinfidel
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:32pm
  Takia is a hot looking Hindu actress.
  
  Report this comment
- aproudinfidel
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:35pm
  @thebronze: So it sounds like a legal loophole basically so muslim men can kill their daughters and wives. Is that about right?
  
  Report this comment
- hayesstephen
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 12:32am
  Gee look who likes to be in control. Just tell us. What a nasty little control freak.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 9:08am
  Taqiyaa is permission to lie if it furthers the Isl am cause. I don’t understand because Is lam give them permission to K i l l their wives if they don’t like them, practically.
  
  Report this comment
- deeberj
  Posted on November 11, 2012 at 9:30am
  So taquiaa means you are allowed to deny or conceal your faith if you are under persecution. What does that have to do with this story?
  
  Report this comment
Keatonc333
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:12pm
All you people hating on muslims.. you are just sad. sad and judgmental. heres a fun little statistic! did you know only one tenth of one percent of muslims have terrorist affiliations? and yet you judge them all! how christian of you!

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- momrules
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:28pm
  You come to this story and all you do is insult Christians and support Muslims. No mention from you of the lies they told, the “I am Shaima Alwadi” tee shirts and posters all over, the Million Hijab march to protest * Islamaphobia * which is just another made up word.
  
  You do not condemn the husband. You really don’t seem to care about the murdered woman. You just wanted to get your dig in at Christians.
  
  I doubt you are a Christian………Muslim would be my guess.
  
  Report this comment
- stewqq
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:33pm
  No one is saying all Muslims are terrorists..there are radicalized groups that we need to be aware of because they hate US and they exist right in your country and have access to our WH!!!
  
  Report this comment
- COFemale
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:34pm
  No we judge the ones who kill their wife. Sharia law is barbaric and not welcome in the U.S. The sooner you face the fact that many Muslims in the U.S. are terrorist affiliated, the sooner you will realize they are trying to establish a Caliphate. Live in your ignorance,but when the “shite” hits the fan, don’t come crying to us. You are on your own.
  
  I judge people based on their character and right now all Muslim men are animals and arrogant B’s. The women, I have no problem with, unless they try to kill me. Then we have a problem and they might not like my resolution.
  
  Report this comment
- HUGGINGMYBABIES
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:44pm
  I don’t hate Muslims….I hate that they claim their god is okay with them bludgeoning each other over a verse in a book, that’s all.
  
  Report this comment
- aproudinfidel
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:09pm
  Did that information come from al quaida?
  
  Report this comment
- SirhanSirhan
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:25pm
  @ COFEMALE- You said: “I judge people based on their character and right now all Muslim men are animals and arrogant B’s.”
  
  In America prostitution is legal and all prostitutes are woman. So, by your logic, ALL women in america are prostitutes because, all prostitutes are women.
  
  Report this comment
- aproudinfidel
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:44pm
  @Sirhan: Wow, that is some logic you are using. BTW not all prostitutes in America are women. Guy like you, I’m surprised you didn’t know that.
  
  Report this comment
- SirhanSirhan
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 9:18pm
  @ APROUDINFIDEL- Where in America are there male prostitutes?
  
  Report this comment
- aproudinfidel
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 9:24pm
  @Sirhan: sounds like you want to find one…no surprise.
  
  Report this comment
- SirhanSirhan
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 9:37pm
  @ APROUDINFIDEL- If you want to know how to pull teeth you go to a dental college to find out how. It seems to me you want keep the secret all to yourself. Or you’re lying about not all females are prostitutes in order to make a point. Which I supposed the latter is the truth.
  
  Report this comment
stewqq
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:07pm
San Diego has a community full of Middle East immigrants and when you start looking and digging into it several terrorists from 9/11 resided here along with Al Alwaki and I believe there are several Mosques that are hot beds of hate in the area. Fox News did a special just on San Diego and this situation a couple of years ago. .

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sandrunner
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:00pm
muslims liers…? what are the odds? LOL

Once a Muslim…always a LIER. wow!!! that sounds like Obama, too.

A lier that says he is a christian, but favors a muslim over a christian?

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:10pm
  Liar… your inability to spell such an easy word speaks volumes about the rest of your post!
  
  Report this comment
- COFemale
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:36pm
  And you acting all anal shows yours.
  
  Report this comment
icedmochanut
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 5:57pm
I am soo sorry for your loss Fatima

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pwatkins
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 5:54pm
This is what I said all along. The hate crime ordeal was a plan to promote hate for Obama’s re-election and it worked along with as much fraud as they could get by with. Are the people that love our country not seeing a pattern of this hate game they are playing in the media for the chosen one.

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momrules
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 5:33pm
For all of you who got so hysterical and self righteous when many of us did not condemn Sgt. Bale of killing those Afghan’s just on their word with no bodies to support their claims.

Remember these words………….MUSLIMS LIE……they blamed the murder of this woman on us, any American would have fit their purpose. They held a Million Hijab March protesting Islamaphobia. They put up posters, they rallied on facebook blaming anyone but one of their own. They stirred up more Muslim hatred but they sure won’t apologize now will they?

You might also remember this too………..THE GOVERNMENT LIES and will appease Muslim sensibilities every time there is a dispute. So until and IF all of the facts about Sgt. Bale is uncovered I will believe in his innocence.

Remember Benghazi and God Bless Israel

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- CatB
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:28pm
  Hi .. MOM .. don’t forget the MSM who without they couldn’t spread their lies, cover-ups .. and blackouts. If the MSM would have done their job over 4 YEARS AGO .. we would not be in this mess today .. they are disgusting POS.
  
  Report this comment
- momrules
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:39pm
  I despise them CATB. They have told so many lies, covered up the truth and protected Obama and that hellish administration.. They are the real racists too. They spread all of the racist hate the past four years and blamed it on any handy white person.
  
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- aproudinfidel
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 8:25pm
  Sgt. Bales was sent to the sandbox to kill terrorists…
  
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claymoremacm
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 5:29pm
let me get his straight he lied about a honor killig,there sure is honor in that…..not…matter of fact show me any honor in the islamic sewer

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Verceofreason
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 5:27pm
His son is so cute.
I will bet dad was a suspect from day one.
Some blond bimbo somewhere.

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SaveAmericaFromTyranny
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 5:15pm
As I watched this unfold, I knew the daughter was lying and it was probably a relative. I could not believe the media allowed her to create fear and hate in the community with her interview. I hope the truth comes out in the trial and all responsible people are put in jail.

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ellietoo
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 4:52pm
These people have no law against telling lies and neither does the left. That is one thing they have in common.
The daughter must have been in on it. She does not even give a good performance during the interview. That is some weird head gear. Does not look like mourning. The family set this up. That girl should be arrested as well for giving false info to the police.
I thought Muslims had to be buried within 24 hours after death. How did the husband get to take the body back to Iraq?

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Chromo200
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 4:50pm
Watch CAIR and the muslim community support that he needs to tried by Sharia Law and that it was honor killing No matter what the truth is we in this country are labeled Islamophobs, and terrorists.

America and other countries shed blood and lots of money to try and stop the acts of being hung by Saddam, but they learned nothing, Iraqis still kills its own people based on religion.. They did not learn anything. We just freed them to do a better job killing. And the ones that came to this country brought their nonsense with them and are unwilling to assimilate.

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:16pm
  next thing you know these Muslims will be waiting outside of abortion clinics with rifles! killing their own people! so sad!
  
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- COFemale
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:39pm
  Keaton when did you become such a jackass? Was it before or after you beat your wife?
  
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- momrules
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:42pm
  No Keaton, Muslims just sick and opium plug in their kid’s mouth, sew a bomb on him and send him out to die in the name of allah.
  
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- rickc34
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 7:23pm
  For only 1/10 of 1 percent they sure murder a lot of people. Just saying. Hitler tried and now a Muslim want to wipe out the entire Jewish race. Hitler failed and I think the Muslims will to. Just saying. 83% of those that attack Israel will die. How do I know the Bible tells me so.
  
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pepsicolakid
Posted on November 10, 2012 at 4:40pm
Where are you CAIR, media? exactly….crickets.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 4:56pm
  They are waiting for a Christian say something against gay marriage. That’s a real news story for them.
  
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- skippy6
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 5:43pm
  Just as Barry will never face trial over Benghazi you will not hear the outrage from the Regressive left on anything that does not fit ( their) agenda of equality……Diversity my ass!!!!
  
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- burnteye86
  Posted on November 10, 2012 at 6:34pm
  When a muslim woman is murdered you can bet it was probably an “honor” killing
  
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