Zara Aleena vigil turns grief into call for change

Four years on from the murder of Zara Aleena as she walked home, her family and friends have again walked the same route, turning their grief into a call for change.

The annual Walk Zara Home vigil in Ilford, east London, brought together loved ones and supporters, continuing a tradition held every year since her death in June 2022.

This year, organisers placed an emphasis on hope as well as remembrance.

Anjum Mouj, co-founder of the Walk Zara Home vigil, said: "One has to believe optimistically that there will be change, and there will be change in community, and there will be change in people, and there will be an outrage that continues about violence against women and girls."

Aleena, a 35-year-old aspiring lawyer, was sexually assaulted and killed while walking home, in a case that prompted widespread concern about women's safety.

Her killer, Jordan McSweeney, was later jailed for life with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey.

He carried out the attack just nine days after being released on licence from prison.

Aleena's aunt, Farah Naz, led proceedings, saying she thinks about her everyday.

"Today I'm going to walk in hope and this will be the first year that we'll do that rather than despair," she said.

Campaigners joined the walk, calling for stronger action to tackle violence against women and girls and highlighting the need for cultural as well as systemic change.

Priya Dawkins, founder of The Jessica Project, a not-for-profit organisation supporting victim-survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse, was among them.

She said: "I hope a message is sent that women deserve to be able to walk home safely without worrying about their safety and most of all as a general public we all have a part to play in that."

Local MP Wes Streeting attended the event and pointed to progress in Redbridge, including community-led initiatives, reductions in harassment and increased prosecution rates.

However, he acknowledged that further progress is needed, and at a faster pace, with continued pressure for resources and stronger national focus.

Streeting said: "Locally here in Redbridge we're seeing real sign of success with the campaign work we're doing involving the community, reductions in harassment, more successful prosecutions.

"But I'd be the first to say we've got a lot further to go, a lot faster and I know the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud is absolutely committed to that too and I've been around the cabinet table with her fighting for more resources and a greater focus to end this scourge in our society."

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