There's growing speculation that a graduate student's killing may have been politically motivated.

Nearly a week has passed since Gelareh Bagherzadeh was found shot and killed near the Galleria.

Friends said Bagherzadeh, 30, was passionate about freedom and democracy. After moving to the United States about five years ago, she joined Sabaz Houston and spent time protesting the oppressive Iranian government.

"Our latest events were really, really small," said fellow Sabaz member Seth Eslami.

Eslami finds it difficult to believe Bagherzadeh's activism would have made her a target.

"Compared to a lot of people who have their own TV shows, who go and lobby in D.C. to try to cause war, they were more important than us," he said.

"It is easy for someone who's living in the United States and feels relatively safe to think that their activities are under the radar and are not being monitored," said Rice Baker Institute's Joan Neuhas Schaan. "But the Iranian government is very serious about understanding who the opposition is."

Neuhas Schaan studies terrorism and the Middle East. She said Bagherzadeh's vocal protests and religious beliefs may have been too much for Iranian leaders to tolerate, especially if the 30-year-old has family still in Iran who are loyal to the current leadership. Her acts, including her recent conversion to Christianity, could be seen as a sign of disrespect for those family members.

"Under Sharia law, if you convert to Christianity, that's a death sentence," explained Neuhas Schaan.

But Eslami said many Iranians left the country in protest and many have also shunned Islam.

"Even out of us, to choose her, you know, a nice lovely girl, why would they choose her?" said Eslami.

Houston police say they have almost no leads in this case. They said Bagherzadeh's murder may have been motivated by her activism, but it could just as well have been a botched robbery.

If you know anything about this crime, call Crimestoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.