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Khalid Mamoun Sarwar is scheduled to go on trial for the murder of Nasim Jamil on Monday 30th August 2010, Glasgow’s Procurator Fiscal has confirmed.

Nasim Jamil

We are following this case because Nasim Jamil did pioneering work on Asian Radio station Awaz FM, trying to re-unite familes who had split through disownment and other so called ‘honour’ (izzat) problems.

At the time of Nasim Jamil‘s death, it was reported that she dreamed of reuniting families, and had been successful in at least 5 cases.

However Mohammed Sarwar, the Muslim MP for Glasgow Central (no relation to the accused), said there was talk among the city’s Asian community that her intervention in family disputes could have made her a target.

This killing affects all of us who campaign against the izzat system, and give up our own time to clear up the mess that it leaves behind. Nasim Jamil was a kind-hearted lady trying- and succeeding- to do the right thing. She was a pioneer on Asian Radio, with the courage to face down izzat problems and try to resolve them. In doing so she showed more courage than any of the big-name Asian presenters, and paid the ultimate price.

Her memory will live on, and we will follow the trial closely.

28 year old Khalid Mamoun Sarwar has appeared at at Glasgow Sheriff Court charged with murder and theft over the killing of Scottish radio host Nasim Jamil.

A 28-year-old man has appeared in court over the death of a radio presenter and agony aunt, who was killed in Glasgow.

Khalid Mamoun Sarwar was charged with murder and theft in connection with the death of Nasim Jamil.

The 54-year-old, who worked on Asian community radio station Awaz FM, was discovered at her flat in Byres Road by her daughter on Wednesday 9 December.

Mr Sarwar made no plea or declaration at Glasgow Sheriff Court and was remanded in custody.

We await the explanation of why a 28 year old Asian man murdered and stole from the home of this popular radio presenter, and whether it confirms MP Mohammed Sarwar‘s suspicions that the death was linked to Nasim Jamil‘s reconciliation work among Glasgow’s Asian community.

From the BBC:

A 28-year old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a radio presenter and agony aunt, who was killed in Glasgow last week.

Nasim Jamil, 54, who worked on Asian community radio station Awaz FM, was discovered at her flat in Byres Road by her daughter on Wednesday 9 December.

Police said a man was being detained in custody. He is expected to appear in court on Monday.

Nasim Jamil apparently felt called to help re-unite split families on her radio show.

The Asian community in Glasgow, where she lived, fear Mrs Jamil was murdered over her role in disputes, Mohammad Sawar, a high-profile Muslim MP said yesterday.

Mr Sawar, who represents Glasgow Central constituency, said: ‘This is only my opinion but I think the most likely motive may be the radio show.’

It also emerged yesterday that Mrs Jamil, called ‘Aunty’ by listeners, may have known her killer as there was no evidence of forced entry at her flat in the city’s West End district.

Mr Sawar added: ‘I have spoken to people in the village where Nasim’s family come from and my own gut feeling is grievances between families she dealt with could have led to this.

‘Problems between husband and wife can have serious implications and I have been involved in some very intense situations involving families in the community.

‘If there were issues between them, it could be they were the most serious kind. There could be some ill feelings in some quarters.’

It has also emerged that a former colleague of the widowed mother of two left the Glasgow-based radio station after receiving anonymous threats.

The 42-year-old, who did not want to be named, left the network, which serves the Asian community, in 2005 and said he and Mrs Jamil had concerns about some of the hostile reactions of some listeners.

He said: ‘It was because I challenged people about their views of women in Asian culture.

‘There are some in the community who are very aggressive and threatening if programmes do not fit their religious views.’

The agony aunt’s body was found with severe head and neck injuries in her kitchen just before 8pm on Wednesday.