Iranian Woman Arrested After ‘Hate Crime’ Fire Is Labeled Hoax

It was labeled a hate crime and gave rise to a march and speeches against bigotry. But investigators grew suspicious as they looked more closely at Zhaleh Sarabakhsh’s claim that she had been bound, slashed and left to die in a fire at her family’s Middle Eastern restaurant.

The slash wounds were too shallow, the bonds around her wrists too loose, investigators said. And the tape, as well as the jugs used to spread a flammable liquid in the blaze, were traced back to the Iranian woman herself.

On Thursday, Sarabakhsh, a 38-year-old co-owner of the Kabob House restaurant, was arrested on suspicion of setting the fire. “Investigators are convinced she acted alone,” Police Lt. Scott Gilman said.

Investigators also suspect she staged at least one in a string of acts of ethnic harassment that led up to the blaze Oct. 23: Fake fingers and ears were sent to the restaurant in early October along with an arson threat.

Authorities offered no motive, and Sarabakhsh’s brother, who co-owned the restaurant, said he doesn’t know what was on her mind.

“She needs to have psychological help to find out,” Mort Sarabakhsh said.

She was arraigned Friday on charges of arson, arson-for-insurance, endangering and making a false report, and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Bail was set at $100,000. The charges carry a possible sentence of 31 years in prison.

She refused to walk and was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair. Dressed in black, she listened to the proceedings with her head down and said nothing.

The night after the fire, about 1,000 people gathered for a spontaneous march against bigotry. A second rally drew 200 people. Thousands of dollars were donated to help the family rebuild.

Mort Sarabakhsh, his voice shaking, said: “We want to send our love and care to all the people who were with us. God bless them. And we ask them to pray for us that we can walk through this horrible crime.”

City Commissioner Erv Inniger said the march and the speeches against hate will not go for naught.

“People who marched did it for the right reason,” he said. “And if they feel foolish, they should not.”