Astride Belanger
A WOMAN who was allegedly pushed off Arthur’s Seat by her husband had a secret text code to use if she was in danger, a court heard.
Fawziyah Javed was pregnant when she died from horror injuries after she fell from the well-known Scottish hill, in Holyrood Park.
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The 31-year-old’s husband, Kashif Anwar, 29, is accused of killing her and their unborn baby on that tragic day in September 2021.
Anwar has denied murder, along with another charge he faces for threatening and abusing Fawziyah at a hotel the day before she died.
The trial today reached its second day in Edinburgh’s High Court.
Fawziyah’s mum took the stand, revealing she was “very worried” about her daughter’s welfare.
Nighat Yasmin Javed told the court she had been so concerned about the marriage that she and Fawziyah set up a secret text code in case she was ever in danger.
The mum explained they had to made the code because Anwar closely monitored Fawziyah’s calls and texts.
Nighat told the court: “I said if you feel that you are in danger, just text me ‘I feel like cream cakes’, and I will contact the police.”
The mum said she made such a plan because of the “abuse, the violence, the aggression, and coercive control” in Fawziyah and Anwar’s relationship.
Nighat said this included Anwar taking £12,000 from her daughter’s bank account while she was sleeping.
She explained that the pair had married in December 2020 but within months Fawziyah wanted out.
The mum told the court: “The accused was being abusive, controlling, manipulative, aggressive and violent towards her.
“She didn’t want to stay in a marriage like that, she wanted to leave.”
The court was also played a recording of Fawziyah on the phone to a legal firm, asking for advice on getting a divorce.
Other witnesses took the stand to retell a day Anwar was allegedly overheard telling Fawziyah in a hospital he would be “free” if she died during childbirth.
Elizabeth Petty, 41, was a midwife working at Leeds General Infirmary in August, just weeks before Fawziyah died.
She told the court a patient heard Anwar telling his wife: “If you died during childbirth that would be okay. I would be free.”
The 41-year-old said when she approached Fawziyah and asked her if this was what had been said, she said yes, and appeared “scared” and “upset”.
Teacher Francesca Cooper, 34, was in the bed next to Fawziyah and overheard the conversation.
She told the court: “I could hear him repeatedly call her a bitch, repeatedly saying he should never have married her, wishing he never married her, and if one of them died during childbirth that would be good because they would be free from one another.”
The trial continues.
How you can get help
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
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