On the 14th July 2025, Karma Nirvana will held its 11th National Day of Memory at Leeds Civic Hall, bringing a day of powerful remembrance, reflection and collective action in honour of those we have lost to Honour Based Abuse.
The Day of Memory was created in 2014 following a joint campaign by Karma Nirvana and Cosmopolitan magazine, supported by over 125,000 petitioners. Officially recognised by the UK government, the day falls on the birthday of Shafilea Ahmed, a bright, courageous young woman who was murdered by her parents for bringing perceived “shame” on her family. Her story, echoed in the lives of many others, is one of strength, agency, and injustice.
As Shafilea would have turned 39 in 2025, we gathered once again to remember her and all those who should still be with us. Their lives mattered. Their names must be spoken. And their legacies must drive lasting change.
What Happened on the Day:
- Memory Box: Families and friends of Shafilea Ahmed, Banaz Mahmod, Fawziyah Javed, Abida Karim, and Naz Mahmood will share personal reflections, photos, and cherished memories of their loved ones.
- Brown Leaf Project: A powerful collaborative artwork and video with our Survivor Ambassador Panel, exploring the symbolism of the “brown leaf” – what it felt like to fall, and what it means now to grow anew.
- Ministerial Address: A speech from Jess Phillips MP, outlining the government’s commitment to tackling Honour Based Abuse.
- Closing Keynote: Delivered by Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner, reflecting on progress, responsibility, and the road ahead.
- Shafilea’s Birthday Tribute: We gathered together to cut a birthday cake in Shafilea’s honour.
Who Attended?
This conference was a professionals-only event. Attendance was restricted to individuals working within the statutory or voluntary sectors. This included, but is not limited to, professionals in:
- Policing and criminal justice
- Specialist VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) services
- Social care
- Health and mental health services
- Housing
- Legal and judiciary sectors
- Education and academia
Because survivors shared personal and sensitive experiences, the event was a closed, private space and not open to members of the general public.
