Shaima Alawadi Slaying May Not Be Anti-Muslim Hate Crime, Records Hint

Only 25 percent of readers taking part in a March 27 Patch poll thought the killing of Shaima Alawadi, an Iraqi immigrant in El Cajon, would ultimately be found a hate crime.

The rest may have been right in doubting that anti-Muslim sentiment was involved.

In search warrant records obtained Wednesday by U-T San Diego, evidence appears to point to family involvement in the crime.

Alawadi, the slain mother of five, “was apparently planning to divorce her husband and move to Texas when she was killed, a family member told investigators,” U-T San Diego reported Wednesday in an online posting, citing court documents.

The records also say that Alawadi’s daughter, Fatima Alhimidi, who called 911 to report the attack, was distraught over her pending arranged marriage to a cousin, U-T San Diego said.

A search warrant affidavit cited by the newspaper said police last fall contracted Alawadi when her daughter and a 21-year-old man were caught possibly having sex in a parked car.

 “A search of Fatima’s cell phone records shows that while she was being interviewed by investigators hours after the attack, someone sent the teen a text message that read, ‘The detective will find out tell them cnt talk,’ the paper reported, citing the affidavit.

The paper added: “Majhed Alhasan, secretary for Islamic Center of Lakeside and a close friend of the family, said Wednesday that he had never heard that Alawadi had been thinking about a divorce and moving.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of it,” Alhasan was quoted as saying. “About a month ago, her mother, non-married sister and two nonmarried brothers moved to Texas.”