This is so hard. I really feel for her family. And for her--she has no idea what is truly in store for her. She's still a child, a very immature 18 year old, but she's headstrong, willful, and unless she can get out and come home, soon, she is really going to regret it deeply!!! Also, she is "soiled" (or spoiled) goods. No Muslim (male or female) would respect her. This is one reason he's abusive to her. Muslim women and girls are "protected", cannot spend time alone with men, in some countries they cannot even talk to a man in public, etc. She has gone against his custom/culture simply by flying there, being with him, etc. It's as if there was no one to protect her--i.e. that she is not esteemed. Apparently, she has low esteem...
I've met women who married non-American Muslim men. One particular case involved a woman who married an Iranian man, who came to the U.S. to go to school. He disrespected, abused, her, etc. He wanted total custody of their son after the divorce, but it was denied in the courts. He told her that when the boy turned 10, (said a boy should be with his mother until age 10), he would "get" him and take him to Iran, that she would never see him again, that she couldn't stop him, etc. She had the boy's Passport placed in a safe deposit box, had a "safety" plan in place, but was always afraid. I don't know what happened when *** turned 10.
I've been to the Middle East 3 times, years ago, as a tourist. Frankly, the average, common person is very nice, though the culture is very different. I was invited into several private homes. In one country several men talked "marriage", almost with no preamble. I simply chuckled--they were just kidding or were trying to get to the U.S. However, one man really "hit on me" with his family involved, and it was "heady", but I wasn't stupid enough to try to marry him. While in Jordan once, there was an article in the Amman newspaper about an honor killing, which was illegal at that time. The males in the family had the nine year old son kill his sister, because he wouldn't be tried as an adult, etc.
Since we are in a war on terror, I would not go to the Middle East again.
Possible things about this man:
1. Maybe He simply wants an American girlfriend or wife, or,
2. He simply wants to come to the U.S, and/or
3. He could be a terrorist. He could be intending to use her as a terrorist, though unbeknown to her, of course. Remember the Lockaby (Scotland) plane bombing? An unsuspecting woman was used by a terrorist to carry a bomb on that plane. This girl is so green that he could strap explosives on her, or he could hand her a bag (with explosives) to carry somewhere and she, along with others would be blown up. As a blond, she would not be suspected in some places--she doesn't "look like" a terrorist. I sure hope they don't get into Israel. I also hope he doesn't come here.
In any event, she is going to regret that she was so headstrong; hopefully, she will be alive to regret doing this.
Praying for her family.
(Original Air Date: 11/15/07) Dr. Phil continues the story of a young woman who made international headlines when she ran away to Palestine to be with a man she met on the Internet when she was just 16. Katherine was stopped by the FBI and brought back home, but two years later and now an adult, she’s left the United States again to be with Abdullah, the man she says she loves and wants to marry. Katherine’s terrified family thinks she is being brainwashed, and may never be allowed to return home. They say they’ve witnessed Abdullah’s violent temper when he’s verbally abused her over the phone. Now, in an exclusive interview via satellite, Dr. Phil speaks with Katherine and Abdullah together. Is Abdullah lying about letting Katherine return home? Is this couple already married? Talk about the show here.
