16-year-old Maarib Al Hishmawi was just a high school girl in Texas who happened to be in an arranged marriage. She refused this…
… and was reported as missing in January of 2018 last seen leaving Taft High School. Now, a month and a half later, she has been found.
According to authorities, the teenager was beaten by her parents — Abdulah Fahmi Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Saha Al Hishmawi, 33 — allegedly beat their daughter with a broomstick AND poured hot cooking oil on her after refusing the arranged marriage.
The arrangement was made for $20,000. She was found in the care of an organization that took her in and cared for her after she ran away. Can you blame her?
BCSO Assistant Chief Deputy Ronald Bennett previously said Al Hishmawi was physically abused by someone she knew.
“I cannot speculate on who (abused her), or when, or how severe. I do understand that this has been a recurring issue for her according to some interviews,” Bennett said in a February press conference.
“This young lady, at various times over that time period was subjected to some pretty bad abuse because she didn’t want to be married to this person,” Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said on Friday, according to KSAT.
“Several times it was reported to us that this young lady was abused with hot cooking oil being thrown on her body. She was beat with broomsticks,” Salazar added. “At least one point, she was choked almost to the point of unconsciousness.”
The teenage girl and her five siblings, between the ages 5 and 15, were placed under Child Protective Services custody.
The parents face charges of continuous violence against a family member. They were taken into custody on Friday.
Police said the man who was arranged to be married to Al Hishmawi may also be charged in the case.