Leila Alwan and
Paul Crompton
AMMAN — Jordanians this week mourned the death of two prominent sisters who were found dead on Friday, as authorities in the capital Amman continue an investigation into their mysterious deaths.
The bodies of Soraya Salti, 44, a mother of one, and Jumana, 37, were found together at the base of a building on Friday. An autopsy showed that the bodies had multiple fractures.
Authorities also announced that a note directed to the parents of the sisters had been found near the bodies. The source, quoted by the website of Jordanian news channel Roya TV, did not say which sisters had written the note, or give any information on its contents.
Soraya had once led Injaz Al Arab, an education group that promotes entrepreneurship across the Arab world. Jumana was a UAE-based director at a professional services firm.
A janitor working nearby discovered their bodies after he heard a thud. According to an autopsy, the bodies had multiple fractures.
According to family acquaintances, the sisters had been at a sports club in an Amman suburb on the same day. Despite some reports of suicide, some believe they had been murdered.
“Their case is so far vague and mysterious,” Raed Omari, a Jordanian journalist and commentator told Al Arabiya News.
Citing a contact who knew the family of the sisters, Omari added that the two had never showed symptoms of depression, casting doubt on reports of suicide.
A statement from the media center at the Jordanian General Security Forces stated that all investigations so far do not indicate any suspected crime in this case.
The report emphasized that all investigation data including medical reports, witness testimonies, technical, and forensic crime reports all indicated no evidence of a suspected criminal in the incident.
They said all of the investigation reports would be sent to South Amman’s prosecutor in order to precede with the investigation.
The Jordan Times reported that members of the Salti family could not be reached for comment.
Marwan Muasher, a former deputy prime minister, wrote on Facebook that the two sisters were “an example of vitality, love of life and enthusiasm,” adding that he found it “difficult to believe that they have committed suicide.”
A post on Injaz Al-Arab’s Facebook said that the organization “is devastated” by Salti’s death.
“She will be remembered as a dreamer that dared to create new opportunities for Arab youth across the region.”
“Words cannot convey the shock and grief of losing our great leader and inspiring role model,” wrote Twitter user Diana Filip, in one of the many tributes posted online.
The sisters were uncomfortable with the attention their professional success had brought them, according to Rania Atalla, a close friend of the pair who had also served as a former chief of staff for Queen Rania.
“Both sisters were understated. They didn’t want the limelight,” she told Jordanian business magazine Venture. — Al Arabiya News
