The Face of Evil?

Reports coming from Texas suggest that Egyptian immigrant Yaser Abdel Said appears to have murdered his two teenage daughters, Sarah and Amina. Ages 17 and 18 respectively, the girls had supposedly humiliated Said and disgraced the family name by adopting Western customs and clothing.

So-called "honor killings" are not uncommon in the Islamic world. With the rise of Muslim immigration, they're now becoming more frequent in Europe. One noteable case in Britain made major headlines because of its abject brutality: Banaz Mahmod, a pretty 20-year-old girl was strangled with a bootlace, eviscerated, and buried in a garden by her father and uncle after falling in love with the "wrong" man.

These savage acts are beginning to occur in the United States, though this case might be the first to attract major attention. That is, if the press has the balls to cover it. Since many Muslims have proven themselves absolutely intolerant of liberal critique, the media has visibly avoided hard coverage. (Thankfully, the Beacon has distinguished itself as an actively critical voice.)

Take, for example, the spineless phraseology deployed by the Dallas Morning News:

Police are also looking at the motives which may have led Said to possibly murder his two teenage daughters, one of whom called 911 from a cell phone near the spot where the girls were later found.

Police say they are looking into the possibility that the father was upset with his daughters dating activities.

Hint hint, nudge nudge.

Says friend Kathleen Wong: "I'm definitely 100% sure that it was her dad that killed [Sarah] . . . She's always told me that she was always so scared of her dad . . . Even at school if a teacher joked around like, 'I'm gonna tell your parents about this', she would like totally flip out and start crying like, 'please don't tell'."

That's via The Washington Times' Fishwrap, which has been doggedly on the case. Kudos for that. (Also, hat-tip for the pics, though these and others are available on Amina's MySpace, linked below.)

Other friends allege that Said was abusive and openly hostile to American lifestyles (which begs the question of why he didn't keep himself planted in Egypt -- where, by the way, this sorta thing wouldn't cause too big a stink).

Fortunately, this story has the real potential to explode, particularly when Said is apprehended and the honor killing is verified. Amina and Sarah were beautiful girls, and there's nothing the American public likes so much as damsels in distress (see: Jon-Benet, Laci, etc.).

For now, take a look at Amina's MySpace. Her quote is awfully appropriate: "Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive."

It's time for Americans to wake up, to face reality. When taken to extremes, Islam can be an extraordinarily dangerous and corrupting force. Granted, that's true of any religion, but it seems that these days, it's Muslims more than others who are enthralled and inspired by faith's dark side.

No more apologizing, no more excuse-making, no more looking the other way. If this was in fact an honor killing (and signs point to YES!), then here, in a nut shell, is the clash of civilizations: the zealous thuggery of backwards superstition versus the liberality of Enlightened modernity.

There's only one question to be asked: Whose side are you on?