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Asya Ahmad Muhammad (right), a 14-year-old Iraqi Christian girl, is on trail for murder in the northern city of Dohuk following the death of her uncle last July. She says she stabbed him with a kitchen knife after he began beating her, her mother, and her younger brother.
The dead man’s family admits that Sayeed Muhammad was in the act of assault when he was killed, but maintains that his attack was justified by the need to restore “honour” lost when his female relatives took jobs outside the home. The girl’s lawyer denies that story, however, claiming that the uncle was upset with the family because the father had converted from Islam to Christianity. Furthermore, he says, Asya was acting in self-defence.
“The attack on Asya Muhammad and her mother was caused by [Sayeed Muhammad’s] family being upset with the father for becoming a Christian,” lawyer Akram Mikhael Al-Najar told Compass. “This young girl is innocent and is a victim of the terrorist mindset of the people charging her. The foundation of this terrorist mindset is that theirs is the only religion.”Asya Muhammad’s lawyer and immediate family have said the girl acted in self-defense and had no intention of killing Sayeed Muhammad.
Asya Muhammad’s father converted to Christianity while working in Beirut in 1998. Upon returning to Iraq in December 2002, Ahmad Muhammad began to share his faith with his family.
The convert’s father, a Muslim cleric, became enraged when his son’s wife, daughter and one son were baptized in 2003.
“My brother [Sayeed Muhammad] has tried to kill me five times since 2002,” Ahmad Muhammad, told Compass. “Four times he tried to shoot me, and once he burned my house down. I’ve lost my house, my car and now my family.”
Asya has been kept in juvenile detention since the incident. Her father Ahmad has been forced to close his business and the family has split up and gone into hiding because of threats from relatives. At first, Ahmad’s mother called for the death of her own son as payback for Sayeed’s killing; but now they are baying for Asya’s execution as well as $50,000 in blood money.
State prosecutors have taken the view that the killing was premeditated and are asking for the death penalty, even though Asya is too young to be put to death under Iraqi law. Her lawyer, who has taken the case pro bono, believes she has a strong argument for self-defence.
During Ahmad’s last visit with his daughter in jail, she implored him, “Daddy, please pray for me”.
Lord, have mercy.
Previous related posts:
- Priest kidnapped, elder murdered in Iraq
- Iraq’s chief archaeologist quits, flees religious persecution
- Persecution of Iraqi Christians is escalating
- Orthodox priest kidnapped and beheaded in Iraq
UPDATE (5 Mar 2007): Asya was convicted and sentenced to four years in juvenile detention. The verdict is being appealed.
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