Coincidence or Trend?

Last week, an African model was found floating in the Seine River. Paris police found no foul play and suspect the model, Katoucha Niane, died after accidentally falling into the river. Niane had become a prominent spokeswoman against the brutal practice of female genital mutilation.

Now, we learn that another African model has disappeared, this time from the streets of Belgium. Waris Dirie was an outspoken critic of female genital mutilation, had written a book on the subject, and was scheduled to speak at a conference in Brussels, which will also feature Sec. State Rice:

Dirie was due to speak to two conferences on women's rights organized by the European Union in Brussels this week, including one Thursday attended by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Dirie's disappearance comes a week after French police said they'd found the body of another former model of African origin who had campaigned against female genital mutilation.

Guinean-born Katoucha Niane's body was found floating in the Seine River in Paris. French police said an autopsy showed no signs of foul play, pointing to the possibility that the 47-year-old Niane may have fallen accidentally into the river.

On Friday, Belgian police launched an official missing persons appeal for Dirie, asking the public for information. The police said they also were looking for the taxi driver that took her from the area between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.

Lutschinger said Dirie had been involved in an altercation at a hotel reception after a taxi driver had taken her to the wrong branch of the Sofitel hotel chain after a visit to a night club. The police were called and drove Dirie around Brussels looking for the correct hotel, after she had apparently forgotten where she was staying.

At one hotel, while staff and police were checking for her name on a computer, Dirie walked out and climbed into a taxi that drove away, Lutschinger said police told him.

While, it may be nothing more than coincidence, I hope that the authorities do look closely at both situations to ensure that it is nothing more than a coincidence.

UPDATE:
Jihad Watch wonders about what happened to these two women - both strident opponents to FGM.

UPDATE:
Reports are coming in that authorities in Brussels have found Dirie alive and are questioning her over what transpired.