Dishonored in Life, Dishonored in Death Update: Above, via Pamela, is a photo of honor killing victim Aqsa Parvez’s numbered gravesite in Meadowvale Cemetery in Brampton, Ontario. Pamela and I have been in touch with the cemetery twice now, but they have not yet gotten back to us with information they promised to send about headstones.
Pamela also received a letter from a friend of Aqsa, containing some very revealing information:
hi,
My name is Shianne Phillips. Im was a really close friend of Aqsa’s. I actually went to the hospital the day it happened to see her but it was too late. I was at her grave yesterday (it was a year ago she died ), and people had been putting flowers and other items on the grave beside hers, because they didnt know which one was hers because the snow was covering the name on the mans plaque and because hers was unmarked. . .As you know. I actually wanted to start a fundraiser to raise money to get Aqsa a nice headstone that she deserves, but my mom came across your website. Im going to put your website in my facebook name and e-mail it to people that i KNOW will want to donate. It would be really nice to get a headstone that has her picture, date of birth and death and something like ” friend to many, loved by all, remembered always ”
Aqsa was such a happy go lucky girl. She was always smiling and cheerful despite her horrible home life. She loved to dance and tried to sing lol. She loved photography and fashion and music. She had a lot of friends and people who cared about her and she knew that. No one cared if she wore her hijab or not, people loved her for HER not what was on her head. Her dad would come to our school during school hours and walk around trying to find her, trying to catch her not wearing it, talking to boys or hanging out with “non-muslims”. I remember one time we were sitting by the front doors at school when her dad came in, she got up and ran away and hid, I’d never seen that terrified look on her face before .
Im so happy that someone who didnt know her, has such a big heart , to take on such a task and to all the people that are donating, no matter how much it is, it helps so much. When I get paid tomorrow im going to donate some too 🙂
So on Behalf of Aqsa, I want to say thank you to all of you guys that have been touched by her story and who want to finally lay her to rest in peace and where people can go to pay there respects to her and her memory. So From all of us that love her regardless of knowing her well, or not at all… will let her Legacy live on 🙂
Thanks again
Love Shianne Phillips <3
UPDATE: We have now heard from the cemetery. They have been very helpful, and we will be finalizing arrangements shortly. Thank you again for all your generous support of this initiative.