The mother of a pregnant woman who was tragically murdered after being pushed off Arthur’s Seat by her abusive husband is calling for action to address honour-based abuse in Scotland. Fawziyah Javad, aged 31 and 17 weeks pregnant, was on holiday in Edinburgh with her husband Kashif Anwar, 29, from Leeds, when the horrific incident occurred in September 2021. Despite managing to inform passers-by that she had been pushed by her partner, Fawziyah tragically passed away. Anwar was convicted of her murder at the High Court in Edinburgh and received a 20-year prison sentence.
Yasmin Javed, Fawziyah’s mother, is now advocating for stronger protections and legislation to combat honour-based violence, including issues like female genital mutilation, forced marriages, and honour crimes. She emphasised the need for improved safety measures for women reaching out to authorities in similar situations to Fawziyah. Yasmin stressed the importance of preventing such devastating incidents and highlighted the ongoing pain and devastation experienced by her family.
Two days before her 32nd birthday, Fawziyah tragically lost her life. In honour of her memory, her family has established the Fawziyah Javed Foundation to offer practical support to parents of homicide victims. Recently, Yasmin shared her heartbreaking story at The Tramway in Glasgow as part of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, organised by the Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre.
Yasmin revealed that Fawziyah had spoken out and taken steps to leave her abusive husband, including contacting the police and divorce lawyers, and documenting the abuse with voice recordings. Despite her brave efforts to break free from the toxic relationship, Fawziyah’s life was tragically cut short. Yasmin underscored the idea that any woman in a similar situation should be seen as a potential victim of murder, urging society to collectively ensure the safety of all women.
The family’s devastating loss has left them grappling with profound sorrow and a sense of mere existence rather than truly living. Yasmin condemned the lasting impact of such violence, stating that while Anwar may be behind bars, her family is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. She highlighted Fawziyah’s role in securing justice by documenting the abuse, pointing out that honour-based abuse can affect any woman regardless of stereotypes.
Police Scotland has introduced a plan to support victims of honour-based abuse, recording 949 incidents between 2014 and 2020. The Scottish Government has been contacted for a response to calls for action in addressing honour-based abuse in Scotland.
In summary, Yasmin Javed’s advocacy for greater protections against honour-based abuse following the tragic murder of her daughter Fawziyah sheds light on the urgent need for robust measures to prevent such violence and protect women in Scotland. Her courage in sharing her family’s story serves as a powerful call to action for authorities and individuals alike to prioritise the safety and well-being of women in vulnerable situations.