A vigil for Sabina Nessa, the 28-year-old teacher who was murdered a few weeks ago on her way to meet a friend in the pub is to be held in a park in Bradford this Sunday.
The peaceful tribute will be held near the bandstand in Lister Park on Sunday 10 October between 3pm and 4.30pm.
The event is being organised by poet Sharena Lee Satti and theatre designer, youth and community development officer, and trainee art therapist Uzma Kazi.
Ms Kazi said: “We have organised this event as being women ourselves we know all too well what it is like being a woman walking alone in the dark. What happened with Sabina Nessa and other women in the news recently really resonated with us. You just don’t expect that to happen.”
The organisers of the event want to encourage people to show and share messages, songs, poems, and artwork in solidarity with Sabina Nessa and women who face domestic and gender-based violence.
Ms Kazi added: “We want this event on Sunday to be a peaceful tribute that anyone who shares the same feelings can come together. Sharena will no doubt be sharing one or two of her poems at the event and I will say a couple of words, but we want this event to be a place where women can share their feelings and connect with one and another about what we go through.
“The event is a vigil for Sabina Nessa but also for women who have gone through or is going through domestic violence.”
Ms Nessa went missing from her East London home around 8.30pm on Friday 17 September. A day later, police were called at 5.30pm on 18 September after her body was discovered near the OneSpace community centre in Cator Park, Kidbrooke Park Road, near her home.
On Monday 27 September, an Albanian man living in Essex, Koci Selamaj, 36, was charged on suspicion of her murder. Mr Selmaj, who spoke only through his interpreter at court is being held in custody until his next hearing on 16 December.
Statistics provided through a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) show that in 2020, there were 65666 domestic incidents recorded in Bradford, with most of the victims, being women.
Domestic incident figures represent the number of incidents recorded during the period which were deemed to be domestic abuse using the Government’s definition.
The Government defines domestic abuse as: “any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional”.
To gauge numbers for the event, you can register your attendance on Eventbrite for free, here. For more information you can email Uzma Kazi at creativeresearchuk@gmail.com or Sharena Lee Sati at sharenaleesatti@gmail.com.
You should report any incidents of domestic abuse to the police by calling 101.
In an emergency, when there is a crime in progress or a danger to life, always dial 999.
Or you can click here to report domestic abuse online.
In Bradford you can access these services:
Staying Put – A domestic abuse and sexual violence charity that provides support services to victims and survivors across Bradford.
01274 667104 or enquiries@stayingput.uk.net or through their website here.
The Oasis Project: (Overcoming Abuse through Social Independence with Support)
01274 634850
Bradford Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse Survivors Service
01274 308 270
Domestic Violence Services Keighley
01535 210999
The Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
0330 223 3617
