Introduction
On a seemingly ordinary day in September 2021, a tragedy unfolded at one of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks that would shake communities across the United Kingdom. The murder of Fawziyah Javed, a talented 31-year-old employment lawyer, exposed the devastating reality of domestic violence and honor-based abuse that can hide behind closed doors, even in the most accomplished families.
Fawziyah Javed was not just another statistic. She was a vibrant young woman, 17 weeks pregnant with her first child, whose life was brutally cut short at Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, Scotland, on September 2, 2021. The perpetrator was the person who should have protected her most—Fawziyah Javed husband, Kashif Anwar, who pushed her from a rocky outcrop in what would later be classified as an act of honor-based violence.
This case captured national attention not only because of its horrific nature but also because of how Fawziyah Javed courageously documented her own abuse, ultimately helping to bring her killer to justice even after her death.
Who Was Fawziyah Javed?
Early Life and Aspirations
Born on September 4, 1989, in Leeds, England, Fawziyah Javed grew up as the cherished only child of Mohammed and Yasmin Javed, second-generation British-Pakistani parents who instilled in her the values of education, service, and determination. From the tender age of eight, she knew exactly what she wanted to be—a lawyer who could make a difference in people’s lives.
Her ambition was matched only by her work ethic. She pursued her dreams with dedication, studying at the University of Sheffield, where she laid the foundation for what would become a successful legal career. Her journey from a young girl with big dreams to an accomplished professional reflected not just her intelligence but her unwavering commitment to justice and fairness.
A Life of Service and Success
As an employment lawyer, Fawziyah Javed built a reputation for her expertise and compassion. She understood that behind every legal case was a real person facing real struggles, and she approached her work with both professionalism and empathy.
But her contributions extended far beyond the courtroom. She was an active volunteer with numerous charities, always looking for ways to give back to her community. Whether she was mentoring children who needed guidance, feeding the homeless who needed sustenance, or fundraising for humanitarian causes that needed support, her generosity knew no bounds.
As a member of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, she worked to empower other women and address issues affecting Muslim communities. Those who knew her described a woman who balanced a demanding career with an extraordinary commitment to making the world a better place. She was, by all accounts, someone who lived her values every single day.
The Relationship That Turned Deadly
A Promising Beginning
The story of how Fawziyah Javed met Kashif Anwar seems almost ordinary in its simplicity. In 2020, while helping her mother select glasses at an optician’s office, she encountered the man who would eventually become Fawziyah Javed husband. What began as a chance meeting quickly developed into a courtship, and by July 2020, the couple was engaged.
Their relationship moved swiftly. On December 25, 2020, they married in an Islamic ceremony, surrounded by hopes and expectations for a happy future together. For Fawziyah Javed, who had dedicated so much of her life to helping others, starting a family of her own must have seemed like a natural next chapter.
Warning Signs and Escalating Control
However, the fairy tale quickly began to unravel. Shortly after the marriage, red flags emerged that alarmed her family. The man who had courted her now revealed a darker side—one characterized by control, violence, and a disturbing sense of ownership over his wife.
The abuse took multiple forms. Physical violence escalated to the point where Fawziyah Javed husband knocked her unconscious in a cemetery during one particularly brutal incident. Financial abuse followed when he withdrew £12,000 from her account while she slept, demonstrating both his disregard for her autonomy and his willingness to exploit her trust.
But perhaps most insidious was the psychological control. Kashif Anwar exhibited deeply misogynistic attitudes toward her independence and success. He demanded that she behave as what he considered a subordinate wife, attempting to strip away the very qualities that made her who she was—her strength, her independence, her professional achievements.
A Pattern of Abuse
Documenting the Terror
As the abuse intensified, Fawziyah Javed did something remarkably brave and prescient—she began documenting everything. Recorded phone conversations captured the controlling behavior and abuse. These recordings would later prove invaluable in court, providing evidence of a systematic pattern of coercive control.
One particularly chilling incident occurred at a hospital, where Fawziyah Javed husband openly expressed his wish that she would die in childbirth. For a pregnant woman to hear such words from her spouse reveals the depths of his cruelty and his complete lack of care for her well-being or that of their unborn child.
He prevented her from acting independently, monitored her movements, and insisted she conform to his narrow vision of how a wife should behave. Every aspect of her life came under his scrutiny and control.
Reaching Out for Help
With the support of her family, Fawziyah Javed contacted the police about the abuse. However, in a decision that would haunt those who loved her, she chose to have the incidents logged without pressing formal charges. Her reasoning was both pragmatic and prophetic—she wanted documentation “in case something happened in the future.”
This decision reflected the impossible position many domestic violence victims find themselves in. They want protection but fear the consequences of full legal action. They hope things might improve while simultaneously preparing for the worst. Fawziyah Javed was collecting evidence, building a record, perhaps sensing that she would need it someday.
The Fatal Trip to Edinburgh
Plans for a New Life
By September 2021, Fawziyah Javed was 17 weeks pregnant and had made a life-changing decision—she planned to divorce Fawziyah Javed husband and raise her child as a single parent. For a woman who had endured months of abuse, this represented both hope and incredible courage. She was choosing freedom and safety for herself and her unborn baby over a marriage that had become a prison.
When Kashif Anwar suggested a holiday trip to Edinburgh, it’s unclear whether she suspected his true intentions. Perhaps she thought it was an attempt at reconciliation. Perhaps she hoped for one last civil conversation about their future. What she couldn’t have known was that he had already decided she would never leave him alive.
The Murder at Arthur’s Seat
On September 2, 2021, the couple visited Arthur’s Seat, the ancient volcano that rises 823 feet above Edinburgh and offers stunning views of the city. It’s a popular tourist destination, a place where people come to experience Scotland’s natural beauty and capture memorable photographs.
But for Fawziyah Javed, this scenic location became the site of an unimaginable betrayal. At a rocky outcrop, Fawziyah Javed husband pushed her over the edge. She fell approximately 15 meters—about 50 feet—down the steep, rocky terrain.
The injuries were devastating. Yet somehow, despite suffering fatal trauma, Fawziyah Javed survived long enough to speak. In her final moments, with extraordinary courage and clarity, she made a dying declaration that would ultimately ensure her killer faced justice.
Her Final Words
When witnesses reached her, including a woman named Daniyah Rafique who climbed down to help, Fawziyah Javed used her remaining strength to identify her attacker. Her words were unambiguous: “Don’t let my husband near me; he pushed me.”
These nine words became the cornerstone of the prosecution’s case. They were a gift she gave to her grieving family and to the justice system—irrefutable testimony from beyond the grave about what had truly happened on that clifftop.
Meanwhile, Kashif Anwar was already constructing his lies. He claimed that both of them had tripped and that he had somehow managed to catch himself while she fell. He asked bystanders to call the police, claiming he had no phone, when in reality he had Fawziyah Javed‘s phone in his possession. He delayed calling for help, perhaps hoping she would die before she could tell anyone what he had done.
The Investigation and Path to Justice
Building the Case
The investigation into the murder of Fawziyah Javed faced challenges that many domestic violence cases encounter—a lack of conventional forensic evidence. There were no witnesses to the actual push, no security cameras capturing the moment. Under different circumstances, Fawziyah Javed husband might have gotten away with calling it a tragic accident.
But Fawziyah Javed herself had built the case against him. The recorded phone conversations she had made, showing his abuse and controlling behavior, painted a clear picture of a man capable of violence. The witness testimony from hospital staff who had heard him wish for her death provided context. Her family members testified to his controlling behavior and the escalating danger they had observed.
Most importantly, there was her dying declaration—the truth spoken in her final moments that Fawziyah Javed husband had pushed her. Bank records showing the financial abuse and evidence she had meticulously collected documented the pattern of abuse that had characterized their marriage.
The Trial
The trial of Kashif Anwar took place from March to April 2023, nearly two years after the murder. Led by advocate depute Alex Prentice KC, the prosecution built a compelling case around the witness testimony, recorded evidence, and the pattern of control and abuse that had defined the relationship.
Fawziyah Javed‘s mother, Yasmin Javed, provided heartbreaking testimony about her daughter’s ordeal and the warning signs the family had observed. Other family members, hospital witnesses, and eyewitnesses from Arthur’s Seat all contributed to building a comprehensive picture of what had happened and why.
The trial was also documented for a Channel 4 Fawziyah Javed documentary titled “The Push: Murder on the Cliff,” which provided rare access to Scottish criminal trial proceedings. This documentary would later play an important role in raising awareness about domestic violence and honor-based abuse.
Justice Delivered
The Verdict
On April 6, 2023, Kashif Anwar was found guilty of murder. The jury also determined that he had caused the death of Fawziyah Javed‘s unborn child. The verdict represented a victory for justice, though one that could never bring back the vibrant young woman or the baby she had been carrying.
The Sentence
Fawziyah Javed husband received a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years in prison. Judge Lord Beckett, in delivering the sentence, noted Anwar’s complete lack of remorse—a characteristic often seen in honor-based killings where the perpetrator believes their actions were justified.
The judge described the crime as an intentional murder carried out in a secluded location, highlighting the premeditated nature of the attack. Anwar had lured his pregnant wife to a remote spot and pushed her to her death, all because she had dared to assert her right to leave an abusive marriage.
For Fawziyah Javed‘s family, the conviction provided some measure of closure, though it could never fill the void left by her absence. As her parents would later describe, they had been given their own life sentence—one of grief and loss that no amount of prison time for the killer could alleviate.
Understanding Honor-Based Violence
Why This Was an Honor Killing
While all murders of women by intimate partners are tragedies, the case of Fawziyah Javed was specifically classified as honor-based violence. This distinction matters because it highlights particular cultural and psychological factors that enable and perpetuate such crimes.
Fawziyah Javed husband killed her not in a moment of rage, but because she wanted a divorce. In his worldview, shaped by patriarchal attitudes about the ownership of women, her desire to leave represented an unbearable shame. She had defied his control, asserted her independence, and chosen her own path—actions that he perceived as dishonoring him and his family.
His controlling behavior around what he considered “proper” wifely conduct, his attitudes about women’s subordination, and his ultimate decision to kill rather than allow her to leave are all hallmarks of honor-based violence. The complete lack of remorse he displayed throughout the trial further supports this classification—he appeared to believe, even after conviction, that his actions were somehow justified.
Family Complicity
The dynamics within Kashif Anwar’s family revealed another troubling aspect of honor-based abuse. His parents engaged in enabling behavior both before and after the murder. After Fawziyah Javed‘s death, they refused to return her belongings to her grieving family, insisting that she “belonged to the Anwar family.”
They also expressed an attitude that divorce was simply not possible in their family, as though family reputation mattered more than a woman’s life, safety, or happiness. This mindset creates an environment where men feel entitled to control women by any means necessary and where violence becomes an acceptable response to perceived dishonor.
Legacy and Ongoing Impact
The Fawziyah Javed Foundation
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Fawziyah Javed‘s family channeled their grief into action by establishing the Fawziyah Javed Foundation. This organization provides crucial support to parents of homicide victims—people who understand the unique, devastating loss of having a child murdered.
The Fawziyah Javed Foundation also works tirelessly to raise awareness about honor-based violence, helping communities recognize the warning signs and understand that this form of abuse can affect anyone, regardless of their education, career success, or apparent independence. Fawziyah Javed was a successful lawyer, yet she still fell victim to this type of violence, proving that it transcends individual circumstances.
Through advocacy, education, and support services, the foundation ensures that Fawziyah Javed‘s death was not in vain and that her story continues to protect and empower others facing similar situations.
Memorialization
On September 2, 2024, marking the third anniversary of her death, a memorial bench was unveiled at Arthur’s Seat. This permanent tribute transforms the site of tragedy into a place of remembrance, where visitors can reflect on her life and the broader issue of violence against women.
The memorial serves multiple purposes—honoring Fawziyah Javed‘s memory, providing a space for her family and supporters to gather, and raising awareness among the thousands of tourists who visit Arthur’s Seat each year about the reality of domestic violence and femicide.
The Documentary
The Channel 4 Fawziyah Javed documentary, “The Push: Murder on the Cliff,” released in 2024, brought her story to a wider audience. By providing unprecedented access to the trial proceedings, the documentary allows viewers to understand not just what happened but why it happened and how the justice system responds to such cases.
The Fawziyah Javed documentary has become an important educational tool, used by advocates and organizations working to prevent domestic violence and honor-based abuse. It personalizes the statistics, showing the real human cost of these crimes and the devastating impact on families left behind.
Ongoing Advocacy
Organizations like Karma Nirvana and the Muslim Women’s Network UK, where Fawziyah Javed had been an active member, continue to use her case to advocate for change. They push for better recognition of honor-based violence, improved support for victims, and cultural shifts that challenge the attitudes enabling such abuse.
Broader Implications
Domestic Violence and the Danger of Leaving
The murder of Fawziyah Javed illustrates a tragic reality that domestic violence experts have long recognized—the most dangerous time for a victim is when they attempt to leave an abusive relationship. When Fawziyah Javed decided to divorce her husband and raise her child independently, she unknowingly triggered the events that would lead to her death.
This doesn’t mean victims shouldn’t leave—it means they need robust support systems, safety planning, and intervention when they do. The case highlights the critical importance of recognizing warning signs of escalating violence and providing victims with the resources they need to escape safely.
Honor-Based Abuse Can Happen to Anyone
One of the most important lessons from this case is that honor-based abuse doesn’t discriminate based on education, professional success, or apparent empowerment. Fawziyah Javed was an accomplished lawyer, an educated woman, and someone who actively worked to empower others. Yet she still became a victim.
This reality challenges stereotypes about who experiences honor-based violence and reminds us that these attitudes about women’s subordination and family honor are rooted in deep cultural and psychological patterns that transcend individual circumstances. Change requires not just supporting individual victims but addressing the broader attitudes that enable such violence.
Criminal Justice Reform
The case has also sparked important conversations about whether the justice system adequately addresses femicide and violence against women. While Fawziyah Javed husband charged and convicted, and received a life sentence, some advocates argue that minimum terms of 20 years don’t reflect the severity of these crimes or provide adequate deterrence.
There are ongoing calls for reform in how femicide cases are prosecuted and sentenced, with advocates pushing for these crimes to be recognized as a distinct category requiring specific legal responses. The importance of documenting abuse, as Fawziyah Javed did, and the role of community reporting in preventing such tragedies are also receiving increased attention.
Conclusion
The story of Fawziyah Javed is one of both profound tragedy and remarkable courage. A talented lawyer, dedicated volunteer, and loving daughter was murdered by the person who should have cherished her most. Yet even in death, her voice rang out clearly, ensuring that justice would be served.
Her dying declaration—”Don’t let my husband near me, he pushed me”—combined with the evidence she had carefully collected, solved her own murder and prevented her killer from escaping accountability. In this sense, Fawziyah Javed continued fighting for justice even after her life was taken from her.
The Fawziyah Javed Foundation, the memorial at Arthur’s Seat, the Channel 4 documentary, and the ongoing advocacy work ensure that her legacy extends far beyond her tragic death. She has become a symbol of both the devastating cost of domestic violence and the resilience of those who refuse to let such tragedies be forgotten or repeated.
For her parents, Mohammed and Yasmin Javed, the conviction of their daughter’s killer brought some measure of justice, but it could never bring back their only child or the grandchild they would never meet. They live with what they describe as their own life sentence—the permanent loss of the daughter they loved and the future they had imagined for her.
As communities continue to grapple with violence against women, honor-based abuse, and femicide, the case of Fawziyah Javed serves as both a warning and a call to action. It reminds us that domestic violence can hide behind any door, that the decision to leave can be the most dangerous moment, and that supporting victims requires understanding, resources, and a willingness to challenge deeply ingrained attitudes about women’s autonomy and worth.
Fawziyah Javed deserved to live a long, full life. She deserved to raise her child, continue her legal career, and keep making the world better through her volunteer work and advocacy. Though that future was stolen from her, her story continues to educate, inspire, and protect others facing similar dangers.
Her life mattered. Her death matters. And the work being done in her name ensures that she will never be forgotten and that her tragedy will help prevent others from suffering the same fate.
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