Parents pour hot oil on teen for refusing arranged marriage

Parents of a Texas high school student who was reported missing in late January had abused their daughter after she refused an arranged marriage, leading her to run away from home until she was found in mid-March, police said.

Maarib Al Hishmawi, 16, was reported missing on January 30 after she was last seen leaving Taft High School in Bexar County. She was found in mid-March when she was taken in by an organization that cared for her after she ran away.

Police revealed her parents, Abdulah Fahmi Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Saha Al Hishmawi, 33, allegedly beat her with a broomstick and poured hot cooking oil on her when she refused to marry a man in another city. 

Apparently, the parents agreed to the arranged marriage in exchange for $20,000.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said on Friday: '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.'

'Several times it was reported to us that this young lady was abused with hot cooking oil being thrown on her body. She was beaten with broomsticks,' Salazar added.