And Speaking Of Hate Crimes

While we're on the subject of hate crimes, how about this story?

A 16-year-old girl is in critical condition after being choked by a man believed to be her father, apparently after a dispute with her family over her refusal to wear the hijab, the Islamic headscarf worn by some Muslim women.

Strangulation is not a simple, quick crime. It takes a long time to reduce your victim to the condition this man left his daughter, with no vital signs. It takes along time with your hands on the victim's neck, looking into the victim's eyes.

Here is what set the dad off:

Friends of the teenager, a Grade 11 student at nearby Applewood Heights high school, identified her as Aqsa Parvez and said they were shocked by the attack on the outgoing, likeable girl, but said she had been threatened by her strictly religious family before.

“She got threatened by her father and her brother,” said Dominiquia Holmes-Thompson, who had known Aqsa since they both started high school together. “He said that if she leaves, he would kill her.”

Ebonie Mitchell, 16, another friend of the victim, said the conflict with her father over wearing Islamic dress came to a head at the beginning of this school year. “She just wanted to dress like we do,” she said.

“Last year she wore like the Islamic stuff and everything, the hijab, and this year she’s all Western. She just wanted to look like everyone else. And I guess her dad had a problem with that.”

Police are waiting to see if the father will be charged with murder or attempted murder. Parenting, Religion of Peace style.