Noor Almaleki

Noor Faleh Almaleki was an Iraqi American who died in an honor killing in Peoria, Arizona (Phoenix metropolitan area) perpetrated by her father. Amnesty International USA stated that the murder was in headlines across the United States "because it happened in Arizona" instead of a faraway foreign country. Background: Her father, Faleh Hassan Almaleki, originated from Basra, Iraq. The family, which left Iraq when Noor was four, moved to the Phoenix area in the mid-1990s. Almaleki and her family lived in Glendale, Arizona and later in the Paradise Views subdivision of Phoenix. She attended Dysart High School in El Mirage. Before the crime occurred, Faleh received his U.S. citizenship and Noor had graduated from high school. Before her death she attended Glendale Community College. She began having conflicts with her parents over her lifestyle and dress. Her father had her go to Iraq to marry an older cousin in Iraq, but she flew back to Arizona in 2008 and began dating someone of her own choosing. Abigail Pesta, the editor-at-large of Marie Claire, wrote "It's unclear whether a wedding actually took place." In the spring of 2009 she moved into her own apartment but lost income when her family members turned up at her places of employment, and she went back to her family's house. In June 2009 she moved into the household of other Iraqi Americans, former friends of the family. She developed a romance with the son of the family, making her own family upset. Pesta stated that "Noor filed for a restraining order, but seems never to have finalized the paperwork." Crime and arrest: On October 20, 2009 she was assisting her boyfriend's mother with translation matters at a welfare office in Peoria. Outside of the office, Faleh struck the two with his vehicle. As a result her brain bled and was injured, even though the skull never fractured, and portions of her body were paralyzed. The collision also injured the other woman, to the point where her pelvis was fractured. Faleh did not stop and render aid, nor did he call for emergency help. At the hospital doctors performed surgery on Noor's spine, and police officers were assigned to guard her. The authorities did not reveal to her family where she was. Noor was put in a coma. Pesta wrote "police records indicate that her family tried to help her father flee abroad." Faleh drove to Mexico, left his car in the city of Nogales, and then boarded an airline flight to London from Mexico City. The UK Border Agency did not allow Faleh to enter the UK, and he was arrested after arriving in the United States, where British authorities sent him to. A urinary tract infection spread to her heart. Maricopa County medical examiner Dr. Kevin Horn stated that it was the infection, and not the direct injuries from the collision, which caused Almaleki's death. On November 2, she experienced brain death and life support, as per the family's request, was disconnected. Criminal penalty and aftermath: Faleh's lawyers stated in his trial that while he indeed hit the two women with his car, he did not intend to kill them, and therefore was guilty of second degree murder. Prosecutors attempted to get a first degree murder conviction, but did not seek capital punishment against Faleh. Faleh was convicted of second degree murder on February 22, 2011. The jury did not find that the act was premeditated. In April 2011, Faleh was sentenced, at age 50, on multiple counts: for murdering his daughter he was sentenced to 16 years, for injuring her boyfriend's mnother he received 15 years, and for leaving the scene of a crime without permission he received three and one half years. Because they are to be served consecutively, Faleh received a total of 34 and one half years in prison as his penalty. A friend established a Facebook group in her honor; by 2010 its membership was about 4,000. 48 Hours had an episode about this crime.