Hit And Run Terrorist May Have Been Stressed Over Wedding

Yes, yes, he may have been stressed over his wedding IN AFGHANISTAN.

The fact that his wedding was in Afghanistan doesn't rate much mention:


Relatives of a Fremont man connected to Tuesday's deadly driving rampage said he may have been distraught after returning recently from Afghanistan without his newlywed wife who iswaiting for a visa.

Omeed Aziz Popal, 29, who sources said was being held by the San Francisco police, was normally a kind and gentle person, said Hamid Nekrawesh, 43, a first cousin in Fremont.

But a recent trip to Afghanistan to participate in an arranged marriage could have caused him a lot of stress, Nekrawesh said.

``He was a very respectful, quiet, nice guy,'' Nekrawesh said. ``I've never seen him do anything violent.''

Zarghona Ramish of San Jose, who also identified herself as Popal's cousin, said he had been having strange dreams since returning a month ago from Afghanistan.

Popal lives with his parents, younger brother and two younger sisters in a working-class neighborhood of one-story tract homes in west Fremont, Nekrawesh said. He worked at a Fremont tire store on Mowry Avenue, neighbors and relatives said, and he and his father also sold household items at Bay Area flea markets.

He was born in Afghanistan, but came to the United States at a young age. Three months ago, he returned to his home country to marry, relatives said, and his wife's family was very traditional and strict.

``He grew up as a Western boy in the United States and went to Afghanistan to get married culturally over there,'' Nekrawesh said.

Nekrawesh wondered if the stress of the trip and the culture shock had an impact on Popal, especially given that Afghan weddings are very large, and Popal comes from a large extended family.

The bride's family didn't allow the couple to meet or talk before the wedding, Nekrawesh said.
``The only thing would be some kind of mental pressure,'' Nekrawesh said, adding that Popal seemed happy before leaving for Kabul. ``The lifestyle is very different in Afghanistan.''


Yeah, it sure is.