She Fought for Muslim Women. Then She Was Found Dead.

“They said ‘no’ because my of my ‘headgear,’” Ms. Salem told The Times. “I said, ‘It’s not my headgear. It’s my religion.’”

She was known to be outspoken. During the uprising in Egypt the same year, Ms. Salem had participated in rallies in New York, Ms. Darwish noted. “She was talking about democracy and fair elections,” she said. “She was unapologetic. She challenged authority. She was not afraid of anyone.”

Ms. Darwish said her friend was also physically strong. Ms. Salem’s father, who has worked as a driver, was a boxer on Egypt’s Olympic team. Known as the “Egyptian Magician,” Kabary Salem gained notoriety when an opponent died after a fight. Ms. Salem’s brother, Omar Salem, followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a professional boxer.

She said she would have liked to have been a boxer, too, her friend recalled, and worked out often. “She was very, very strong,” Ms. Darwish said. “It beats me how — if this was a murder — how any one could have killed her, because she was stronger than some men.”

Her father described a household that was traditional and revolved around physical fitness. “No drink, no hangout,” he said. “Athletes, all my kids.”

Since college, Ms. Salem had pushed to exert her independence, according to friends. She dreamed of completing her college degree, being financially independent and renting her own apartment. Not long ago, Ms. Darwish said, Ms. Salem had gotten her paperwork in order to drive for ride-share services including Uber.

She remained an observant Muslim. During the last days of Ramadan, an intense period of prayer that closes the holy month of fasting, she kept friends’ spirits up, joking and proposing dance breaks, Ms. Darwish said.