The New York Times
Her father had a theory about her murder. Then came the arrest.
NEW YORK – When Ola Salem’s body was discovered in a Staten Island park in October 2019, her friends and family grabbed a statement. Salem, 25, was known as a dedicated advocate in the shelter for domestic violence for Muslim women and children where she volunteered, and the suspicion in local media focused on her husband, with whom police said she had a tumultuous relationship. has. Her father offered another theory: Kabary Salem told The New York Times that his daughter told stories that she was followed by someone. On the highway. Sign up for The Morning Newsletter of the New York Times But authorities now say the tip was a lie the investigators wanted to mislead, and it was Kabary Salem who killed his daughter, dragged her body to Bloomingdale Park and with branches covered. Kabary Salem, 52, virtually appeared in court last week to face charges of seven counts, with charges of murder, strangulation and concealment of a human corpse. He pleaded not guilty, court records show. A Kabary Salem lawyer could not be reached for comment last week. Officials said that despite Kabary Salem’s statements to reporters, he was considered a suspect in the death of his daughter. ‘ In the course of this tragic case, we never lost hope that the alleged killer would be arrested and charged, ‘said Michael E. McMahon, the district attorney in Staten Island, in a statement. “We will continue to hold this accused accountable incessantly.” The charges followed a year-long investigation into a murder that troubled many of those who knew Ola Salem. Her friends said they were tormented by the news of her father’s arrest. On October 23, 2019, Ola Salem was in Pennsylvania with her father, a former professional boxer who competed in the Olympics, officials said. Later that evening or early the next day, Kabary Salem strangled his daughter, according to the charge sheet. Officials said he then drove to Staten Island, dragged her body to Bloomingdale Park in the Prince’s Bay area and covered it with branches and leaves. He then said he returned to Pennsylvania and later fled the country. Important to the investigation was this year’s discovery that Kabary Salem had rented a car from Avis on October 22, a law enforcement official familiar with the matter said. , Kabary Salem told investigators he drove his daughter home in their family car to New York. Investigators also found his daughter’s phone in the family car, the official said, and Kabary Salem told them she forgot it when he dropped her off. Staten Island, including a short stop in the park near where his daughter’s body was found. He was arrested in Kuwait in December with the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Interpol and placed in quarantine before being extradited to New York again. Prosecutors gave no possible motive for the murder. But the relationship between Ola Salem and relatives seems to have been going on for some time. At the time of her death, Ola Salem’s family had an active protection order against her, according to the law enforcement officer, who was not authorized to do so in public. Kabary Salem, who also worked as a manager, was a boxer in Egypt’s Olympic team in 1992 and 1996. He was known as “The Egyptian Wizard” and had a mixed reputation among fans and other fighters and gained notoriety in 1999. acquired. when an opponent for whom he repeatedly stabbed him during a match lost consciousness and died after a brain operation. He retired from the sport six years later. Kabary Salem posted a photo of himself and his daughter on an Instagram account now defunct in March with the caption: “I miss you and love you, tear my love.” After Ola Salem’s death, Kabary Salem is quoted in a New York Times story as saying that his daughter “always said someone would follow her” when she was driving and that he hoped to get clarity. “I want to know what happened to her, what the reason is – but nobody tells me – I’m just waiting,” he said at the time. He will appear in court again on February 5. Members of Ola Salem’s family declined to comment further when it was reached Wednesday they said they were still processing the news.As a teenager Ola Salem, who grew up in Coney Island, was an active member of the Muslim American Society Youth Center in South Brooklyn Friends said she enjoyed boxing like her father, led religious discussions at Kingsborough Community College on weekends, and was known for her caring and protective nature at the Asiyah Women’s Center, a shelter for domestic violence where she volunteered for night shifts. .founder of the shelter and friend for more than a decade, said her stomach turned when she encountered memories of Ola Salem’s death, adding that she hoped “justice will be done.” Darwish remembered the last days of Ramadan when she and Ola Salem would dance and sing, exchange laughter and predict their lives in the future, while opening the shelter in Brooklyn, Darwish said she rushed to Ola Salem for help. , knowing that her friend had a ‘way to make people feel safe’ and comfortable. ‘People would be so traumatized to come to us, and she just had this relaxed spirit and calming presence,’ Darwish said. “She just made people laugh at something right away, even though they’ve had the worst days of their lives.” Ola Salem was known as outspoken, and when she was 17, she made headlines after visiting Playland Park, an amusement park in Rye, New York, on a youth trip to mark the end of Ramadan. told by employees that she could not ride with her younger sister because of her hijab, she asked to speak to the management. The problem increased, and a small fight broke out. “I said,” It is not my head covering. It’s my religion, ‘Ola Salem told the Times. For Darwish, the murder of her friend – who fiercely defended other women – remains a devastating loss. “There are women who experience domestic violence and leave situations where they could be killed. “She was the reason they felt safe enough to leave,” she said. “I wish our community did more to protect her in the way she protects them.” This article originally appeared in The New York Times. (C) 2020 The New York Times Company