Mother of woman murdered at Edinburgh landmark Arthur's Seat haunted by daughter’s last words

Kashif Anwar, 29, was found guilty in April of murdering his pregnant wife by pushing her off Arthur’s Seat
By Lucinda Cameron
Published 22nd Jun 2023, 08:24 BST
Updated 22nd Jun 2023, 10:13 BST

The mother of a pregnant woman murdered by her abusive husband has said she will never forget her daughter’s last words asking if she and her baby were going to die.

Fawziyah Javed, 31, and her unborn child died after she was pushed from Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh, in September 2021.

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Kashif Anwar, 29, from Leeds, was found guilty of the murder after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh and was given a life sentence and ordered to serve at least 20 years behind bars.

Fawziyah Javed at her graduation with father Mohmmed and mother YasminFawziyah Javed at her graduation with father Mohmmed and mother Yasmin
Fawziyah Javed at her graduation with father Mohmmed and mother Yasmin

In a television interview, Ms Javed’s mother Yasmin Javed told BBC Newsnight her daughter had contacted divorce lawyers and had made voice recordings of Anwar being abusive.

She said she would never forget her daughter’s last words asking “Am I going to die? Is my baby going to die?”

Mrs Javed said: “The words go round around my head every single day. Alongside the grief and pain, I can’t get them words out of my mind.”

The BBC reported in one of the voice recordings Anwar can be heard telling his wife not to challenge him, saying: “Don’t challenge me, do not be that British woman.”

Arthur's Seat where Fawziyah Javed, 31, and her unborn child died. Picture: Scott Louden/NationalWorldArthur's Seat where Fawziyah Javed, 31, and her unborn child died. Picture: Scott Louden/NationalWorld
Arthur's Seat where Fawziyah Javed, 31, and her unborn child died. Picture: Scott Louden/NationalWorld

Her daughter, who was about 17 weeks pregnant when she was pushed from Arthur’s Seat, used her dying words to reveal it was her abusive husband who caused her to fall about 50ft before her body came to a rest.

Daniyah Rafique, 24, managed to reach the dying employment lawyer on the side of the hill, where she was told: “Don’t let my husband near me, he pushed me.”

Giving evidence during the trial Mrs Javed said Anwar was “abusive, controlling, manipulative, aggressive and violent” towards her daughter. She told the BBC he did not like the fact his wife was independent.