On November 10th, Abhi posted about missing person Dr. Zehra Attari of San Jose. Dr. Attari left her Oakland office on November 7th to attend a medical conference in Alameda but something went horribly awry; this stable, responsible Auntie vanished, and authorities are troubled because it seems obvious at this point that foul play was involved:
…San Jose Police. Chief Rob Davis calls the AttariÂ’s a “good family” and believes Dr. Attari is missing against her will.
Vigils have been held back home in Northern California, a $20,000 reward has been publicized, local newspapers have kept the story alive, a blog has been created to disseminate information…and nothing. While the majority of us immersed ourselves in the warmth and affection of our loved ones last week, a brokenhearted family endured Thanksgiving without their wife and mother. Leads have dried up and since Dr. Attari’s 2001 Honda Accord is nowhere to be found, the possibility that she was in an accident seems less and less likely.
Erstwhile patients of the missing Pediatrician leave messages at her clinic, expressing concern for a woman who was obviously well-loved, who tended zealously to the needs of her low-income patients over the last seven years. My heart breaks when I think of Dr. Attari’s two daughters. My only sibling is a sister, and if our mother went missing after something as painfully routine as leaving work, I would crumble. Wouldn’t you? Please don’t forget this woman; you know you would call her Auntie if you were introduced to her, so act like she is yours– repost, forward, volunteer…and if you are so inclined, sign this petition which implores the FBI to get involved with this nightmarish case. While you do that, I’ll be praying for the Attari family, that they survive this ordeal, find answers, and peace.
This is SO sad; I was visiting Oakland when she went missing and heard this on the radio. When a missing person is desi (esp. someone as kind and respected as this aunty) it especially touches me.
Huma and Ruby – my prayers are with you. I hope your mom is found safe .. and soon.
on CNN last night with Nancy Grace, the featured the Attari case and had her daughter Dr. Ruby Ali on as well…
it is really just sad, how unpublicized this entire case has gone… thinking that she purposely drove herself into the bay, to just not really going out there to search…
i don’t know if it because she is brown, and the color differentiation makes this case less important..but nancy grace along with myself was pretty damn pissed off…
it is a real tragedy.. a women who spent her live saving childrens lives, loved her family, and did her duty–dissapears and now, not much is going on?
sucks.
my thoughts/prayers/hopes are with the family….
sometimes i really wonder if this country is colorblind, or is that me and my rose colored glasses…
If she is being held, please let her go back to her family.
Is there some letter-writing campaign we could conduct to get more attention onto her case?
The only thing I can say is that my thoughts and prayers are with the Attari family. I will pray for you all. Please keep your heads up during this tough time. I want to see your mom at home with you again and will ask of God to make that happen.
I just want to encourage as many people as possible to continue searching for any clues regarding her disappearance. Although it has been a while, we should not give up searching. Most of all, the Attari family needs some kind of closure. Please do not let this issue fade away with time, until we find her.
To the Atari Family, On behalf of Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland Oregon I would like to give you our deepest sympathy. We had been following this story and praying there would be a good outcome. We are so sorry. We wish you peace and comfort.
Its really sad to hear what happened to her. She was a really nice person. she was my doctor for awhile and she will be missed. She always had a smile on her face and she tended the needy and the poor.
Sadly, Dr. Attari is one of thousands of people who go missing each year. She deserves no more or no less attention than anyone else.