Activists across the world are calling for justice for a Palestinian woman after she was reportedly killed in a family honor killing on Thursday.
Israa Ghrayeb, a 21-year-old Palestinian from Bethlehem, died after allegedly being beaten and tortured by her brother after she posted a video on social media with a man who she was soon to be engaged to.
Her brother Ihab, a Canadian resident, was reportedly angered by the video, claiming it dishonored the family by showing her together with her fiancé before the official wedding ceremony.
Anyone who was in that hospital and heard her scream/ beg for help and didn’t help her is a MURDERER!#كلنا_اسراء_غريب pic.twitter.com/vU8CRbR55h
— NKA (@noufalnassiri) August 30, 2019
He was reportedly called on by their father to beat Israa after cousins of the family saw the footage online, according to social media reports.
Whilst attempting to escape her family’s violence, she fell from the second floor of their house, causing serious spinal injuries, according to media reports.
#كلنا_اسراء_غريب
Noone deserves to be just another hashtag, there must be change. pic.twitter.com/ER3WNVZb8s— No Reason (@ifiwereaswan) August 30, 2019
An aspiring makeup artist, she announced on her Instagram story that she had to cancel all appointments for August and September because her health wouldn’t allow her to work while she was awaiting a spinal cord operation.
She wrote:
“I’m strong and I have the will to live — if I didn’t have this willpower, I would have died yesterday.”
She added:
“Don’t send me messages telling me to be strong, I am strong. May God be the judge of those who oppressed me and hurt me.”
What happened to is heartbreaking, disgusting and barbaric. Her family must be prosecuted & pay for their crime. Nobody should be able to get away with murder in the name of fake “honor” They have no honor She was their honor.??#كلنا_اسراء_غريب
الله يرحمك ويعوض شبابك بالجنه pic.twitter.com/JtRcmpG3K6
— هيـا ثـامـر (@Ha_almu) August 31, 2019
She was then reportedly assaulted a second time whilst in hospital, with video footage emerging online of her screaming during the alleged attack.
The circumstances surrounding her death are unclear, with social media reports claiming she died at home days after being assaulted in hospital.
Israa’s family have denied the accusations, and claim she died from a heart attack.
#كلنا_اسراء_غريب you desrve to live in heaven not with psychotic animals. Rest in Peace pic.twitter.com/mm8wX89khv
— N.M( Educational leader) (@Mrsnimah) August 31, 2019
Palestinian Authority police have not made an official statement about the alleged killing.
An Arabic hashtag which translates to #WeAreAllIsraa began trending online, with social media users posting messages of solidarity and calling for justice.
Many pointed out that Israa followed all of the social protocols. She chose to marry her partner, saw him with her parent’s permission and with a chaperone, and adhered to the Islamic head covering known as the hijab, but was still murdered in the name of family honor.
rest in peace ???#كلنا_اسراء_غريب pic.twitter.com/HMRehjilSI
— نُور? (@noorolemat17) August 31, 2019
Others called on the Canadian government to arrest her brother.
Feminist blogger Fadumo Adan told The New Arab:
“As a survivor of an honor killing, Israa’s story triggered a deeply embedded fear of mine.”
She emphasized that despite the fact women are becoming financially independent, they still remain at risk.
(Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, PC, Social Media)
The story about Izraa Grayeb upset s Me
Why would any parent do this to their own child what sort of twisted perverted thinking makes a father ask his son to kill his sister for the fu*&ing family honor? This family has no honor and I speak as a father who lost his only son in an auto accident May 20 2017 and can bow my head in shame for this wicked crime. RIP young lady you deserved better from your family