by Natasha Tynes | Feb 16, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
A federal judge Tuesday sentenced a Jordanian woman to 15 months in prison for illegally entering the United States, despite her tearful explanation she believed her family in her native country wanted to kill her. In handing down the sentence for Wafa Mustafa, 35, U.S. District Judge David H. Coar said he was troubled by the defendant’s long history of felony convictions in the years she spent in the United States.
"Every country has the right to protect itself and its citizens," Coar said. "You have shown a flagrant disregard for the laws of our nation." Mustafa last lived in Oak Lawn. Before the judge announced his sentence, Mustafa begged him to give her probation, saying she only came back to the United States because she was afraid her family wanted her dead because they believed she had disgraced them.
"Being there (in Jordan), knowing that they want to kill you … of course I’m going to run," Mustafa said, adding that she also wanted to get back to her children, who live in this country. "I have no place else to go. No other options."
But Coar noted 10 convictions on Mustafa’s record, including state convictions for retail theft, criminal trespass and reckless conduct dating back to 1992. In 1996, Mustafa pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Rueben Castillo to calling in a phony threat that a bomb was aboard a Chicago-bound Royal Jordanian jet carrying a relative, according to court records.
Source: [NBC5]
I don’t buy this woman’s claims of being chased by her family. I think she is so desperate to get into the "New World" that she is playing the honor crime card — a very salable concept in the west. It would be expected from someone that pleaded guilty to calling in a phony bomb threat of a Royal Jordanian plane. I’m glad they didn’t buy her fabrications! Maybe she and Norma Khoury should get together! They could have a nice chat!
by Natasha Tynes | Feb 15, 2005 | Everyday me!
This post will be all over the map simply because that is my current state of mind these days. Let me begin by saying I expect Roba will strangle me the next time she sees me in Amman, as I gave up reading The Lord of the Rings (for now at least). It was just too dark for me and I kept dreading returning to it. Eventually, I ended up with nothing to read. So I decided to keep away from it as I’m already operating with a dark mental status thanks to my obsessing about regional politics.
The book that I will be starting next is Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity based upon Amal’s recommendation. I’m told it should cheer me up. I watched the movie years ago and I don’t remember much besides the fact that it perked me up so I’m all for it. Earlier today we watched a very enjoyable French movie called Love, etc. Have I ever told you how much I enjoy French cinema? Anyway, this flick was a typically eccentric European movie that crosses moral boundaries and ends with no real message. I enjoyed it.
I also met up with Amal today for coffee at a place in Doha called Seaside Patterserie — no, it was not by the sea. Our conversation revolved around one topic: The Hariri assassination. She is still in shock and can’t believe that Hariri is gone for good. We kept going back and forth as to who was responsible for the attack. Our list of potential perpetrators was long and had a conspiracy theory flavor to it. Ah well, welcome to the Arab World, the birth place of conspiracy theories.
On a totally different note, Chanad has a compelling post about Shia religious celebrations in Bahrain. The pictures he posted as well are fascinating.
Back to the mental status. I had plans to be productive today and do things like cook for example, but it didn’t work out. Damn this bad mood!! Anyway, I’m off tomorrow and all for staying up late and watching movies. The first movie of choice tonight will be Dinner with Friends, but before I turn myself into a coach potato I’ll leave you with some newswire highlights:
by Natasha Tynes | Feb 15, 2005 | Everyday me!, Music
I got a nice surprise yesterday in the form of a package from FedEx that was delivered to my workplace. Inside the package was a copy of Sarah McLachlan’s album Afterglow, a CD Ive been wanting for a while now, with an accompanying letter congratulating me for winning the Music Now! competition.
The letter, addressed to me, was from Orbit! To the best of my recollection, I hadn’t participated in any Music Now! or Orbit sponsored competitions, so it took me a few seconds to figure things out. The husband, who is some kind of a pop-culture walking encyclopedia, answered a question featured on the Music Now! channel and gave them my details as the winner so the prize would go to me. It was a nice surprise and a clever one too! I have been listening to her music all the day and it is so soothing!
by Natasha Tynes | Feb 15, 2005 | Tidbits
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I have been feeling really down lately with all of this political mayhem that I keep obsessing about. Here is something that cheered me up. I thought I’d share.
Hat Tip: [Muna]
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by Natasha Tynes | Feb 15, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
Nothing really makes my day like hearing about Jordanians
making it abroad. Laith Majali is but one of them. Here is an article about him from Elon University in North Carolina. Best of luck in all
of your future endeavors Laith. You are making all of us proud.
