On the third anniversary of Zara Aleena’s death, her aunt, Farah Naz, has issued a stark warning that women in the UK are still not safe, and has cast doubt on the Government’s commitment to halving violence against women and girls. Zara, a 35-year-old law graduate, was killed by Jordan McSweeney while walking home in Ilford, East London. At the time, McSweeney had an extensive criminal record and had breached his probation just days after his release from prison. A coroner later ruled that systemic failures in the Probation Service and police significantly contributed to Zara’s death.
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Ms Naz expressed frustration that, while some progress has been made, widespread misogyny and an under-resourced public safety network continue to put women at risk. “Between two and three women are murdered every week in the UK,” she said, highlighting findings that 40% of women report being harassed or stalked. She criticised what she views as overpromising from politicians without adequate funding or reform, warning that services like probation, mental health, and youth support are overstretched and interdependent. Without serious investment and structural change, she fears many vulnerable people will continue to “fall through the cracks”.
She also drew attention to broader cultural issues, pointing to recent government moves to restrict strangulation in pornography and the troubling popularity of online misogynists like Andrew Tate. Ms Naz said these examples show the depth of society’s problem with misogyny, and stressed that meaningful reform would require a shift in attitudes as well as policies. “How do we shift a culture?” she asked. “These are really big questions.”
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To honour Zara’s legacy, Ms Naz encouraged the public to be more than bystanders. She urged people to safely intervene when witnessing harassment or abuse and to speak out against misogyny. Zara, she said, was a quiet but courageous figure who believed deeply in fairness and justice. “Justice must be a civic duty, not just a political promise,” Ms Naz said. “Zara was an upstander—she stood up when others stayed silent. That is the spirit we need to protect others today.”
