The parents of sixteen-year-old Texas girl are being accused of drenching her in hot cooking oil and beaten her with a broomstick–after she refused to take part in an arranged marriage.
Maarib Al Hismawi, 16, had been missing since January 30 but was recently found in mid-March, after running away from home.
According to authorities, Maarib’s parents, Abdulah and Hamdiyah Al Hismawi, attempted to force her to marry a man in another city, and had received $20,000 from the man in order to deliver their daughter.
“This young lady, at various times over that time period was subjected to some pretty bad abuse because she didn’t want to be married to this person,” explained Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
“Several times it was reported to us that this young lady was abused with hot cooking oil being thrown on her body. She was beat with broomsticks,” he added.
“At least at one point, she was choked almost to the point of unconsciousness.”
Maarib and her five younger siblings, ages 5 to 15, were removed from their parents and placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.