I think you’ve inferred a purpose not intended. I am not INSISTING they aren’t Muslim. Rather, I am questioning the family’s behavior as it has been reported in the various stories I HAVE followed since the story broke. You remember, back when everyone was SURE they were Hispanics? Or maybe black?
Call it stereotyping, but that family’s behavior simply does not conform to the typical recent Middle Eastern Muslim immigrants. They sure aren’t ‘practicing’ Muslims if they were celebrating Christmas. Christians are fine with anyone who wants to celebrating and enjoying the secular side of Christmas. Muslims of the islamicized variety do not celebrate Christmas. They probably find it a beheading-worthy offense.
I am merely speculating that this family came to the US around the time of the fall of the Shah, when Iran was far more secular, and are not what we have come to recognize as Muslims or at least Islamicized Muslims who do ‘honor killings.’
When the dust settles, I would venture this will turn out to have nothing to do with ‘honor killings,’ the thesis of this article, but rather a despondent madman who took out his whole family.
Maybe that's why they were killed.