4 September 2024

MEDIA STATEMENT

Amal safety mobile phone App launched in memory of Fawziyah Javed

Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK) have now formally launched the Amal safety mobile phone app. The Amal app is dedicated to Fawziyah Javed who was murdered by her husband Kashif Anwar on 2^nd September 2021, just two days before her birthday. He also took the life of their unborn baby. On 4^th September 2024, Fawziyah would have celebrated her 35^th Birthday.

The Amal App contains a section dedicated to Fawziyah Javed, sharing her story and forms of abuse she endured during her marriage. It is designed to support victims by helping them to identify various types of abuse, offering safety advice, enabling incident logging, and providing information on available support, including legal remedies. For women concerned about their communications being monitored, the app also allows contact with the Muslim Women's Network Helpline.

Baroness Shaista Gohir OBE stated: “Our thoughts remain with Fawziyah’s family, particularly her mother, Yasmin Javed, whose pain is beyond measure. We commend Yasmin’s courage in continuing to share Fawziyah’s story to raise awareness about domestic abuse. By including Fawziyah’s story in the Amal App and providing essential information, we hope it will help women and potentially save lives.”

Black, Asian and minority ethnic women are over-represented in domestic homicides by over 20%, and MWNUK is highlighting these cases on the ‘Say Her Name’ page of its website: https://www.mwnuk.co.uk/say-her-name . The issue of domestic abuse in minoritised communities therefore demands urgent attention. We strongly urge the Home Office to initiate an inquiry into domestic abuse experiences of minority ethnic women and the barriers they face in seeking help. It is vital to address the intersectional experiences of violence faced by these women to ensure that policies and services effectively meet their needs.

The Amal App is available for both iPhone and Android users. Currently, the Android version can only be downloaded from our website, but it will soon be available on the Google Play Store. If you are experiencing abuse or are concerned about someone else, please contact the Muslim Women’s Network Helpline at 0800 999 5786 or email info@mwnhelpline.co.uk.

Additional Information

•Media enquiries can be directed to: contact@mwnuk.co.uk or 0121 2369000

•Muslim Women’s Network UK is a national charity, more info can be found on: www.mwnuk.co.uk

•MWN Helpline can be contacted on: Tel: 0800 999 5786 / Email: info@mwnhelpline.co.uk / Text: 07415 206 936 / www.mwnhelpline.co.uk