Family Champions Justice for Victims of Fatal Domestic Abuse Falls

The family of Fawziyah Javed, a 31-year-old woman tragically murdered by her husband, is advocating for justice for women who meet their demise through falls orchestrated by abusive partners. In September 2021, Javed and her unborn child lost their lives after she was pushed from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, an act for which Kashif Anwar, 29, from Leeds, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years.

Joining forces with the advocacy group Killed Women, Javed’s family is pushing for systemic changes to address and prevent what they term as “hidden homicides.” This initiative gains further attention through the Channel 4 documentary “The Push,” chronicling Javed’s case. Yasmin Javed, Fawziyah’s mother and member of Killed Women, emphasized the necessity for rigorous investigation into such cases to prevent domestic abusers from exploiting legal loopholes.

Highlighting a broader issue, criminologist Professor Jane Monckton Smith estimates approximately 130 women in England and Wales are killed annually under circumstances not fully scrutinized as homicides. In response, Killed Women has sought data on incidents involving women falling from heights, revealing a lack of comprehensive records across UK police forces, with only Police Scotland and Humberside Police providing some data.

The Fallen Women campaign spearheaded by Killed Women calls for a reevaluation of all such deaths to ascertain potential links to domestic abuse. The campaign advocates for systematic data collection and insists on treating domestic abuse as a primary investigative avenue in these cases.

Supporting the campaign, Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, urged for a deeper examination into the context of these deaths, including any history of domestic abuse. The National Police Chiefs’ Council and Police Scotland have acknowledged the gravity of the issue, committing to improve responses and preventive measures against domestic violence, underscoring the collaborative effort needed to protect and serve victims effectively.