Canadian Muslim Charged with Murdering Sister for Removing Headscarf

Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 8:33:39 am PST

Remember this horrifying story the next time an Islamic advocacy group tries to tell you that wearing the hijab is a completely voluntary choice for Muslim women: Murder Charge for Brother Whose Sister Shed Scarf.

TORONTO —  The brother of a Canadian teenager who was slain in what friends described as a family dispute over a Muslim head scarf was charged with murder, becoming the second family member accused in her death, police said Friday.

Aqsa Parvez, 16, of Pakistani origin, was strangled in December at her Mississauga, Ontario, home. Waqas Parvez, 27, who had faced obstruction allegations in his sister’s death, was charged Thursday with first-degree murder.

Their father Muhammad Parvez, 57, was charged with first-degree murder earlier this month. He had been a suspect since shortly after her death.

Police would not disclose details of any new evidence that prompted the Friday’s charges or what impact they would have on the case against the father. But spokeswoman Samantha Nulle said investigators were checking if other people had been involved in the death.

Police have refused to confirm the killing was over the scarf, and Muhammed Parvez’s lawyer, Joseph Ciraco, has said that more than just cultural issues played a role. He did not return calls for comment Friday.

But friends said her death came during a family feud over her refusal to wear the traditional Muslim veil.

(Hat tip: Thanos.)