Labour MP's Childhood Shattered by Murder Accusation
Labour MP Naz Shah has revealed the traumatic events surrounding her mother's murder trial in an exclusive extract from her forthcoming memoir. The Bradford West MP describes how her world collapsed when both she and her mother were arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a family friend.
The Day Everything Changed
On April 11, 1992, Naz Shah's uncle Azam died from complications related to gastroenteritis. The young Naz knew there was "something" between Azam and her mother, but being raised not to ask questions, she never challenged her mother about their relationship. She had no understanding that her mother was trapped in a coercive, abusive relationship with the man.
"Everything changed with Azam's sudden death," Shah writes. "Before long, strange rumours began to circulate within the community about Azam, Mum and the relationship between them."
Arrest and Investigation
Following Muslim burial customs, Azam was interred the day after his death. However, his wife had informed the coroner's office about her suspicions of poisoning and had preserved a sample of his vomit. When tests confirmed the presence of arsenic, police arrived at the Shah family home.
"When I told them I had prepared the curry and Mum had made the samosas and Azam's dessert, we were both arrested on suspicion of murder," Shah recounts. "Nothing could have prepared me or Mum for what followed."
Police Interrogation and Community Fallout
Initially treating the situation with levity, Shah joked with officers who called her "petal" and gave her magazines to read. She interpreted their kindness as tacit acknowledgment that a mistake had been made. "I didn't know that their levity was calculated," she writes. "Murder is a serious offence to be charged with, and with that comes the risk of suicide – that's why they were being so nice."
The following day brought harsh reality when mother and daughter appeared on local newspaper front pages with the headline: "Mother and daughter arrested on suspicion of murdering local man." The community rumor mill went into overdrive.
Suicide Attempt and Spiritual Crisis
Overwhelmed by the chaos, Shah attempted suicide by consuming multiple boxes of painkillers. "I'd had enough. I was out of here," she writes. "The rumours, the arrests, the mayhem – I couldn't see another way out."
She describes how her cultural understanding of Islam at the time offered no comfort. "I was raised to fear God, not love Him. Heaven and hell were our daily lessons, and my cultural understanding of Islam didn't extend beyond the missive to keep God happy and not risk His wrath."
Following emergency stomach pumping, Shah's mother was distraught, repeatedly asking: "How could you do this? How could you think of leaving us?"
The Turning Point in the Investigation
Forensic testing revealed arsenic in the gajrela dessert that Shah's mother had prepared specifically for Azam. No arsenic was found in the curry Shah had cooked. Traces of arsenic in Shah's own system were attributed to cross-contamination.
On July 27, police returned to arrest only Shah's mother, making clear that Naz was no longer under suspicion. Her mother was formally charged with murder and remanded into custody.
The Trial and Verdict
The case reached Leeds Crown Court in November 1993. "The day Mum was found guilty, I believed I'd witnessed a monumental miscarriage of justice," Shah writes. "It was a mistake, and I would fix it. I had no idea how, but I knew I would."
Watching her mother diminish before her eyes in the courtroom, Shah believed this was "the most disastrous thing that had ever happened to me and my family." She adds: "During the course of the next few years, I was to learn otherwise."
Mother-Daughter Relationship Dynamics
Throughout the ordeal, mother and daughter never discussed the rumors, accusations, or details of her mother's relationship with Azam. "We didn't have a modern parent-child relationship – certain subjects were off the table, including my reasons for attempting suicide," Shah explains.
Her mother's constant reassurances that everything would resolve itself provided little comfort as their lives descended into chaos.
The memoir extract reveals the profound impact of these events on Shah's life and her subsequent journey into politics. The full account appears in "Honoured" by Naz Shah, published by Orion on March 5.
