Yasmin Javed, whose daughter Fawziyah died after being pushed from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh by her abusive husband, has welcomed new ‘honour’ abuse measures
The heartbroken mum of a pregnant woman who was pushed off a cliff by her abusive husband has welcomed a raft of measures to tackle ‘honour’ abuse.
Yasmin Javed, whose daughter Fawziyah Javed died after plunging 50ft from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, said she was pleased calls for tougher action had been listened to. The Home Office has announced it will change the law to better protect victims, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper vowing to “shine a light” on the horrific scale of abuse.
Lawyer Fawziyah was murdered by Kashif Anwar after he learned she planned to divorce him and raise her child in a safe environment. She suffered a serious head injury when she was pushed by Anwar at the popular tourist spot in September 2021.
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As she lay dying, 31-year-old Fawziyah told police that her husband – who she previously reported to police – had pushed her. Anwar, who had previously knocked her unconscious during a vicious campaign of physical abuse, was jailed for her murder in 2023.
The Government said it will bring in new statutory guidance and a legal definition of ‘honour’ based abuse to help police and social workers to support victims. There will also be improved training for officers.
Ms Javed said: “As Fawziyah’s mother, I am pleased that the government has listened to our calls for a statutory definition of ‘Honour’-Based Abuse, and that this change has been made in Fawziyah’s memory. I hope that this will help many more people affected by HBA and ensure that the multiple perpetrators of this abuse are properly recognised and addressed.”
Payzee Mahmod, whose sister Banaz was murdered by her father, uncle and cousins after she left an abusive forced marriage, said it “represents meaningful progress”. She said: “As someone who has lost my sister, Banaz to an ‘honour’ killing and as a survivor of child marriage and “honour” based abuse myself, I know how vital it is that professionals from the police to social workers and teachers have the clarity and tools they need to recognise this abuse and act quickly to protect those at risk.
“This step represents meaningful progress towards better safeguarding and ensuring that survivors are properly seen, heard, and supported.”
Banaz, 20, was forced into an abusive marriage when she was 16, and told her family she had been beaten and raped by her husband. Despite this she was told that leaving him would bring shame on her family.
After she fled her marriage and found a new partner she told police she feared relatives – who she named in a letter handed to police – were going to kill her. She was tortured and raped before being strangled in January 2006, and her body was buried in a garden in Birmingham.
The National Centre for VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) and Public Protection will work with police to improve the way officers assess the risks of honour-based abuse. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) defines honour abuse as crimes “committed to protect or defend the honour of an individual, family and/or community”.
Latest figures show 2,755 Honour’-Based Abuse allegations were made to police in England and Wales in the year to March 2024. Ms Cooper said: “There is no ‘honour’ in them.
“For too long, these offences have often been misunderstood by professionals, resulting in victims not getting the support they deserve. Today we are announcing measures to put an end to this and shining a light on this debilitating abuse.”
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said: “These crimes can cause unimaginable long lasting physical and mental pain for their victims. They have no place in our society and we must do everything we can to put a stop to them.”
The Home Office will also carry out a study aimed to identify how widespread this abuse is, alongside an awareness campaign. Natasha Rattu, executive director of campaign group Karma Nirvana said: “Alongside investment in awareness, training, and the national helpline, this change, in Fawziyah’s memory, has the potential to save countless lives and protect future generations.”
Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, said: “So-called honour-based abuse is a devastating crime, often leaving victims terrorised, isolated, and controlled by the very family and community that should be protecting them.
“The introduction of a statutory definition is a welcome and crucial next step in strengthening our collective response to this serious and complex abuse.”
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