Politicians gather to remember Newport Saudi crash family (From South Wales Argus)
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Politicians gather to remember Newport Saudi crash family
12:54pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Gwent news
REMEMBERED: Clockwise from top left Shaukat Hayat, his wife Abida, daughter Saira Zenub Hayat and eldest son Mohammed Isshaq and his wife Bilques Haya, centre
POLITICIANS came together in the House of Lords last night to remember five members of the same Newport family killed in a horrific car crash while on a pilgrimage trip.
Shaukat Ali Hayat, 56, his wife Abida, 54, eldest son Mohammed Isshaq, 33, daughter Saira Zenub and Mohammed’s wife, Bilques, who had eight weeks left before she was due to give birth, died after they visited Mecca on February 8. A taxi they were travelling in left a motorway in Saudi Arabia. Little Mohammed Eisa Danial Hayat, two, was the only survivor.
Hundreds of community leaders, Muslims and residents from across the UK touched by the Argus’ coverage had requested to attend the London memorial service, according to Shazada Hayat, older brother of Shaukat.
But the committee room at the House of Lords could only hold around 125 people, so some had to stay at home. Shazada Hayat, older brother of Shaukat, said the service was organised by Lord Ahmed, who read about the family’s plight.
Mr Hayat said: “The Argus triggered off everything and they invited us to the House of Lords.
The story really touched people.”
The memorial service came just a week after the Hayats’ relatives appealed to Prime Minister David Cameron and the Queen to intervene in their battle for justice for Mohammed Eisa Danial, requesting a full investigation into the crash.
