A young Turkish Cypriot mother of two whose body was found in a freezer in a flat in Canning Town, East London, last April, will finally be laid to rest on Friday, 24 January.
The family of 38-year-old Canan Mustafa have finalised the arrangements for her funeral together with the UK Turkish Islamic Trust and Funeral Services (UKTIT).
The ‘Cenaze’ (funeral) will commence with prayers at Shacklewell Lane Mosque, Dalston, at 11am on Friday. From there, Canan will be taken to Tottenham Park Cemetery in Edmonton – the UK’s largest burial site for British Turks – where she will be laid to rest. The burial service will start at 12.30pm.
Canan’s cousin Ayşe Hussein said: “Everyone who knew Canan is welcome to come and pay their respects.”
Those attending have been asked to consider making a donation instead of bringing flowers, to help support Canan’s two children, a girl aged 12 and a boy of 19.
You can make a donation on the day or contact Ayşe Hussein by email for details of how to make a Pay Pal donation: dj-lady-ayse@hotmail.com
Year-long search for Canan Mustafa ends in heartbreak after body found near home
London-born Mihrican Mustafa, known to her family as Canan, and to non-Turkish friends as ‘Mary Jane’, went missing in May 2018 after leaving her family home in Canning Town, East London, to go to nearby shops.
Her family launched a ‘Missing Persons’ campaign in a bid to find her. Sadly, their worst fears were confirmed a few days before the anniversary of her going missing, when police gained access to a flat in Vandome Close, Customs House, a short distance from Canan’s home. Her body and that of another young woman, Henriett Szucs, were found in a freezer.
Canan was a mother of two: a 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old boy. She was the youngest of four siblings – elder brother Hasan, and elder sisters, Mel and Zeynep. Canan lost her father some years ago, but is survived by her mum Şerife.
Speaking to T-VINE ahead of Friday’s funeral, Ayşe said: “We looked for Canan everywhere after she went missing, and prayed she’d be found safe. Sadly, last April we received the news we were all dreading that she was no longer alive.”
“It’s been very hard for the family coming to terms with losing Canan in the circumstances we did. The fact we can never see her, hug and kiss her again, and tell her how much we love her…our hearts are truly broken.”
The family have had to wait for nine months before police released Canan’s body for burial. Numerous tests were required as part of the post-mortem into the cause of death.
Ayşe said while it had been a “tough period” for the family, they were happy the police and other experts were being “so thorough in gathering evidence”, and that they had been kept regularly updated by them about the investigation.
So far only Zahid Younis, 34, of Vandome Close, has been charged in relation to the case. In May of last year, he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates Court charged with two counts of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a dead body.
Funeral venue addresses, parking and transport information
Shacklewell Lane Mosque, Shacklewell Lane, Dalston, London E8 2DA
Parking is extremely limited at the mosque and there is also limited on-street, metered parking. The Kingsland Shopping Centre car park (entrance via Martel Place, E8 2FQ) is a short walk away and costs £3.50 for the first hour and £5 for two hours.
Alternatively, the area is well served by public transport: Dalston Junction and Dalston Kingsland stations, and lots of buses from the City, East and North London.
Tottenham Park Cemetery, Montague Road, Edmonton, London N9 0EU
There is on-site parking at the cemetery, although access may be restricted on the day. However, there is on-street parking on the nearby main road. Public transport is more limited – the nearest station is Tottenham Hale, from where you can catch the 192 bus.
