What is a forced marriage?
Forced marriage is defined by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as “a marriage conducted without the full and free consent of both parties, where duress is a factor”
England, until recently, was considering making a law banning forced marriage. But they decided against it, "prompted by fears that the new law would stigmatise Muslims".
Between 2003 and 2005, 518 forced marriages were recorded in London, and in 2005 more than 140 in Bradford. Campaigners say those are merely the tip of the iceberg.
Most cases in Britain involve Muslim families, although the practice is not restricted to any particular religious or ethnic group.
True, but
“More than 60 per cent of cases involve Muslim families, particularly Pakistani Muslim families, yet there is no faith foundation for it A forced marriage in Islam is no marriage at all. The community has a responsibility. I hear dialogue from victims but I don’t hear a great deal from Muslim men.”
It appears most of the rest are Asian.
And
Most victims are aged between 16 and 20 and many suffer physical assault, death threats and false imprisonment, usually at the hands of close family members.
First considering, then deciding against, such a law implicitly condones it, it seems to me.
Commander Steve Allen of the Metropolitan Police said that a decision by ministers last month to drop proposed legislation had been greeted by some ethnic minorities as a signal that forced marriage was acceptable.
No surprise there.
