Parents Beat, Pour Hot Oil On Teen For Refusing Marriage: Sheriff

SAN ANTONIO, TX — A San Antonio high school student who was reported missing in January had hot cooking oil poured on her and was beaten with broomsticks because she refused to participate in an arranged marriage, authorities said. Now, her parents are facing charges.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office on Friday told reporters the parents of the 16-year-old girl had both been arrested.

The teen was reported missing on Jan. 30. She left William H. Taft High School and wasn't found until nearly two months later when an organization took in the runaway and cared for her. She was placed into the custody of child protective services and was questioned by authorities.

"As we began questioning her, we began finding out more details that quite frankly were disturbing," Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters.

In mid-2017, the girl's family was to receive about $20,000 as part of an arranged marriage with a man in another city, the sheriff's office said. The teen was abused by her parents because she didn't want to marry him, including being choked to the point where she was nearly unconscious, the officer said.

"The only way that this young lady could bring an end to this abuse was to verbally agree to become a party to this marriage," Salazar said.

Authorities believe that arrangement was the precursor that lead her to leave her home.

Five of her siblings that were also in the home are also in CPS custody. They're between 5 and 15 years old. It wasn't immediately clear if they were abused, the office said. The abuse began in mid-2017, authorities allege.

The parents, Abdulah Fahmi Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Saha Al Hishmawi, 33, face a charge of continuous family violence. More charges are possible for the parents, including from the FBI. Charges are also likely for the man she was to be married to.

A search of the home has been conducted and the local sheriff's office is working with the FBI.

Photo credit: Renee Schiavone, Patch