(ECHO)-THE funeral of a mum and her two children allegedly murdered in Toxteth was held yesterday.
Arena Saeed and her two children, Rami and Shadia were buried at Allerton Cemetery after a prayer service at Liverpool’s central Al Rahma Mosque.
In Islamic communities, deaths are seen as a loss to the winder community and not just one family, meaning the service was an open invitation for people to pay their respects.
Her direct family members, including four brothers and parents, were unable to travel from Yemen to attend the funeral.
However, as the funeral was held after afternoon prayer (Zuhr) hundreds of Muslims from Toxteth’s close-knit community stayed to pay their respects to the family through prayer.
Another funeral was being held at the same time.
Muad Alshapi, the victims’ cousin, told the ECHO how the community came to pay their respects and how there was so many people at the funerals they needed two double-decker buses.
He said: “I am Arena’s cousin, yesterday I had to sign to release the body and I’m the only family member here.
“The family are back in Yemen and it is a long way to travel, they couldn’t travel in a short time.
“But there are a lot of people here so we have had to have buses to take people to Allerton Cemetery were they will be buried facing Mecca.”
After the service Arena, Rami and Shadia were buried at a private burial ceremony in Allerton.
Speaking from her hometown in Aden, Yemen, Arena’s brother Yaseen told the ECHO she had moved to Liverpool after an arranged marriage to Sami, and wanted to “build a future” for her children.
Using a translation app, he spoke about how his “cherished” sister would be missed - and revealed dozens of people had turned up at her parents’ home to pay their respects after news filtered back to Yemen.
He said: “Arena was loved by her friends for her patience in dealing with people. She had many dreams and wanted to live in Britain to build a future for her children.
“When Arena and the children departed, our smiles departed.
“She left a void in her family, we lost our most cherished sister and her children. We raised them in Yemen and they will never leave our memories.”
He added: “So far in our house in the city of Aden we receive solace from all who knew her and her children.
“We ask God to accept her martyr and to have mercy on her and forgive her.
“This is a heinous crime against humanity and the right of children.”
Merseyside Police yesterday, June 12, released details of the Home Office post mortem examination carried out on the bodies.
The report suggested that Arena mum Arena Saeed, 30, was killed by asphyxiation, suffocation and blockage of her airways.
It also says her daughter, six-year-old Shadia died of asphyxia, blockage of her airways and potential drowning and concluded her son, four-year-old Rami died from drowning.
Toxicology reports on the bodies are still under investigation.
The bodies of Arena and her two children were discovered in a ground floor flat on Falkner Street on Tuesday May 30 after neighbours reported a concern for the welfare of the people in the home.
Residents in neighbouring buildings were evacuated over fears of a gas leak, but were allowed to return a short time later
Police arrested Arena’s husband, 30-year-old Sami Salem, on suspicion of murder at the scene, but he was taken to hospital after “falling ill”.
He was discharged and taken into police custody on Wednesday, May 31 before being charged with all three murders.
Salem will appear back in court on June 30, where he is due to enter a plea.
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| Arena and her children |
Arena Saeed and her two children, Rami and Shadia were buried at Allerton Cemetery after a prayer service at Liverpool’s central Al Rahma Mosque.
In Islamic communities, deaths are seen as a loss to the winder community and not just one family, meaning the service was an open invitation for people to pay their respects.
Her direct family members, including four brothers and parents, were unable to travel from Yemen to attend the funeral.
However, as the funeral was held after afternoon prayer (Zuhr) hundreds of Muslims from Toxteth’s close-knit community stayed to pay their respects to the family through prayer.
Another funeral was being held at the same time.
Muad Alshapi, the victims’ cousin, told the ECHO how the community came to pay their respects and how there was so many people at the funerals they needed two double-decker buses.
He said: “I am Arena’s cousin, yesterday I had to sign to release the body and I’m the only family member here.
 |
| Pictures shared by Arena's family back home in Yemen show six-year-old Shadia and four-year-old Rami smiling |
“The family are back in Yemen and it is a long way to travel, they couldn’t travel in a short time.
“But there are a lot of people here so we have had to have buses to take people to Allerton Cemetery were they will be buried facing Mecca.”
After the service Arena, Rami and Shadia were buried at a private burial ceremony in Allerton.
Speaking from her hometown in Aden, Yemen, Arena’s brother Yaseen told the ECHO she had moved to Liverpool after an arranged marriage to Sami, and wanted to “build a future” for her children.
Using a translation app, he spoke about how his “cherished” sister would be missed - and revealed dozens of people had turned up at her parents’ home to pay their respects after news filtered back to Yemen.
He said: “Arena was loved by her friends for her patience in dealing with people. She had many dreams and wanted to live in Britain to build a future for her children.
“When Arena and the children departed, our smiles departed.
“She left a void in her family, we lost our most cherished sister and her children. We raised them in Yemen and they will never leave our memories.”
He added: “So far in our house in the city of Aden we receive solace from all who knew her and her children.
“We ask God to accept her martyr and to have mercy on her and forgive her.
“This is a heinous crime against humanity and the right of children.”
Merseyside Police yesterday, June 12, released details of the Home Office post mortem examination carried out on the bodies.
The report suggested that Arena mum Arena Saeed, 30, was killed by asphyxiation, suffocation and blockage of her airways.
It also says her daughter, six-year-old Shadia died of asphyxia, blockage of her airways and potential drowning and concluded her son, four-year-old Rami died from drowning.
Toxicology reports on the bodies are still under investigation.
The bodies of Arena and her two children were discovered in a ground floor flat on Falkner Street on Tuesday May 30 after neighbours reported a concern for the welfare of the people in the home.
Residents in neighbouring buildings were evacuated over fears of a gas leak, but were allowed to return a short time later
Police arrested Arena’s husband, 30-year-old Sami Salem, on suspicion of murder at the scene, but he was taken to hospital after “falling ill”.
He was discharged and taken into police custody on Wednesday, May 31 before being charged with all three murders.
Salem will appear back in court on June 30, where he is due to enter a plea.
Follow @Medeshi
