An ASU Muslim student who was reported missing Friday has been located and is currently stranded in Pakistan, according to Tempe police.
Nida Farooqie, a supply chain management junior, was reported missing by her brother when she was actually on her way to Saudi Arabia, where she has lived almost all of her life. She withdrew from all of her classes at ASU.
According to Bob Soza, dean of student life, 48 international students have withdrawn from ASU since the events of Sept. 11.
In Tempe, Nida lived with her brother, Tahir Farooqie, who said she left because of threats made by ASU students on and off campus.
“Ever since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., there were guys who bugged her and told her they would kill her,” Tahir said.
He said the same men who threatened her had been bothering her for the past six months.
“They asked her out on a date, and she didn’t want to do so. It got to the point that she got scared and left on short notice,” he said.
Nida never reported the incidents because she was too scared, Tahir said.
“She had only been here for two years and because she was new to the country, she wasn’t aware of her rights. She was also experiencing a culture shock and just couldn’t take it,” he said.
Tempe police Sgt. Randy Fougner said Nida is stuck in Pakistan because of passport problems, according to her father, who lives in Saudi Arabia. She is still technically considered missing to Tempe police.
“The detectives said the case requires additional information, and we will obtain that when we can actually talk to her, not her relatives,” Fougner said. So far, Tempe police have talked to Nida’s brother and her father.
Tahir called police on Saturday to report that Nida was on her way home, but the police haven’t closed the case yet.
Reach Sandy Almendarez at salmend@imap2.asu.edu.
