The Israeli Police have arrested Hisham Marihai and Shadi Abu Saraya, the primary suspects in the shocking murder of 18-year-old Sarit Ahmed. Alongside them, Saed, Sarit's own brother, was also taken into custody. Saed is suspected of having commissioned the murder due to his sister's sexual orientation. The indictment against all three was filed in the district court in Haifa upon the conclusion of the investigation, which was made public on Sunday morning.
Bassel Falah, the attorney representing Saed, contested the charges, stating, "There is no concrete evidence linking Saed to the act as described in the indictment." The murder, which has deeply unsettled the Israeli populace, occurred on Friday, June 9, in the afternoon. Police received a distressing report about a young woman, critically injured from gunshot wounds, lying next to a bullet-riddled car on a road near Yarka—a Druze-majority Arab-Israeli village.
Said Ahmed the brother of 18-year-old Sarit Ahmed is accused of ordering the murder of his sister over her identity as a lesbian. Sarit was shot dead on June 9 while driving in her car near the entrance to the Druze village of Kisra-Sumei. pic.twitter.com/Hpwq3hlUEN
— Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) August 27, 2023
Upon launching their investigation and identifying the deceased, it became apparent that Sarit was likely targeted due to her sexual orientation. It was revealed that her brothers had previously threatened her life over this and had even served prison time for making such threats. Crime scene analysis indicated that the victim's vehicle had been rear-ended by another car. Losing control, Sarit's car collided with a safety barrier. The assailants subsequently opened fire on her vehicle. Attempting to flee on foot, Sarit was pursued and gunned down outside her car. The killers discharged approximately 11 bullets before setting their vehicle ablaze and escaping in another.
Investigators unearthed historical connections between the murder suspects and the victim's brother, Saed. They found evidence of meetings and communications close to the murder date. Additionally, the burnt vehicle used in the crime was traced back to a car stolen from Kfar Saba and brought into Israel from the Palestinian Authority territories.
Israeli-Arab community:
— Ayelet Azoury (@azoury_ayelet) August 27, 2023
Sarit Ahmed was murdered few months ago. The reason? Her sexual orientation. The Israeli police has arrested her 18 year old brother, as he is suspected of ordering the murder. Before she was murdered Sarit lived in a women’s shelters, because she did… pic.twitter.com/tKYOnns9pi
In a formal statement, the Israeli Police underscored their thoroughness: "In each investigation we undertake, we meticulously examine every single lead and explore all possible outcomes. It's a grueling process involving the scrutiny of tens of thousands of pieces of information. Only a handful of these actually further the investigation, helping us unravel the chain of events and solidify the evidentiary base." They noted that nearly 5,000 hours were spent on solving this particular case.
The haunting investigation reveals the tragic story of Sarit Ahmed, a young woman who merely aspired to live her life freely, to love and be loved without the burden of societal or familial prejudices. As her story unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the pernicious consequences of intolerance and the absolute necessity for justice and human dignity.
