Women said they hoped to show ‘solidarity’ with the family of teacher Sabina Nessa, who was killed in London last weekend.
Around 20 people joined a candlelit vigil at Manzil Way Gardens, Cowley Road, on Friday night. It came as hundreds attended a vigil in south east London near where the 28-year-old’s body was discovered last Saturday.
At the Oxford event, speakers paid tribute to 28-year-old teacher Sabina and talked of the importance of people working together to tackle violence against women and girls.
Cllr Shaista Aziz, who organised the vigil, likened violence against women and girls to a ‘pandemic’. “Any death is one death too many. We believe in justice and standing in solidarity with Sabina Nessa’s family and loved ones.”
The Al-Fatiha, a verse from the Quran often said as a prayer for mercy, was read and candles lit before those at the vigil observed a minute’s silence.
Cllr Lubna Arshad added: “This is an incredibly shocking and tragic incident. We’ve just come together, we’ve said a prayer; councillors, local residents, women and men have come together today because we’re feeling sad – the community’s feeling sad. This is a harassment for women; especially for Muslim women.”
Candles were lit at the vigil for Sabina Nessa at Manzil Way Gardens, Oxford
Centre, Cllr Shaista Aziz at the vigil for Sabina Nessa at Manzil Way Gardens, Oxford
She added it was ‘alarming’ that women no longer felt safe to go out alone. “We hope they do carry on going out and feel protected and the communities around them protect them the best way possible and the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“We’ve all come together today praying and offering solidarity with the family and our local communities here on Manzil Way in east Oxford because this is where we’ve grown up."
Questions were raised about why Sabina’s death had not appeared to attract the public and media attention that other women had.
Embassy Ahmed joined the vigil after reading about Sabina’s death. “It really shocked me. Being Muslim as well, she could be like a sister to me. It’s unbelievable, it’s really shocking. The police haven’t done enough about it.”
Centre, Cllr Lubna Arshad at the vigil for Sabina Nessa at Manzil Way Gardens, Oxford
Sabina Nessa Picture: FAMILY/MET POLICE/PA
Cllr Evin Abrishami said: “I think in this day and age, in this society violence against women has no place. I really feel for Sabina’s family. I really feel for all other young women in her situation who may now be fearful about what happened.”
On Friday night, hundreds of people attended a vigil in south east London.
Sabina Nessa's sister Jebina Yasmin Islam thanked those who came out to pay their respects to the 'amazing, caring, beautiful sister' at the London event.
"Words cannot describe how we are feeling, this feels like we are stuck in a bad dream and can't get out of it - our world is shattered, we are simply lost for words," she said.
"No family should go through what we are going through."
Her uncle, Shahin Miah, paid tribute to the ‘kind and open-minded person’ who was ‘always helping others’.
Sabina Nessa’s body was found in Cator Park, Kidbrooke, south east London, last Saturday. Police said she had been walking to meet a friend at The Depot bar on Friday night.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the teacher’s murder. Both have been released under investigation.
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