Since watching a Panorama episode about the 'honour'-based abuse and murder prevalent within many (mostly) Asian communities in Britain, along with the custom of forced marriages which is tightly interwoven with the honour system (many commentators, indeed, cite the forced marriage tradition as the crux of the problem), I've been compiling notes with the intention of writing a piece on it. Unfortunatley, lack time means that a hefty swathe of notes that still feel incomplete is all I've managed so far. I will get to it sometime but it might take me a while. In the meantime, though, I thought I'd let someone else do the work, by sharing this video I found during 'the course of my enquiries'.
For those whose instant reaction is that this should be dealt with by law; you're damn right it should, but it's apparently not even illegal in this country! I quote from the Panorama programme: "The government is now considering making forced marriage a criminal offence." The emphasis is mine, but; Bloody Hell! 'Considering'! What the hell is there to 'consider'? If ever there was a type-example of a no-brainer, this surely is it; yet according to Karma Nirvana, a charity set up to deal with forced marriage and honour-based abuse, "It is important to note that in 2005 the Government made the decision not to make forced marriage a specific criminal offence and today there remains no specific criminal law in England and Wales." If you're English or Welsh, please consider filling in the Home Office consultation at that link.
I'll definitely have more to say on this, including how it affects those in other countries, and especially the south-Asian and north-African countries the tradition stems from, rather than just the UK. Until then, though, a couple of phone numbers for those in the UK.
For help regarding forced marriage specifically, call the Forced Marriage Unit on 02070080151.
For help with both forced marriage and other honour-based abuse, call Karma Nirvana on 08005999247.
—Daz
Education is so important and it seems like the world can’t enough of it fast enough. I support your efforts and I hope more will do the same!
I agree, it should be made illegal.
The problem is that since this is happening only in “Asian” communities (a bit of research will reveal that it isn’t “Asians” but just Muslims) there will inevitably be the cries of “Racists!” to any who dare try to fight against this forced marriage business.
Muslims and Sikhs, but yes, there seems to be too much tip-toeing around the race/culture issue.
On the up-side, there do seem to be, gradually, more and more Sikhs and Muslims speaking out against it. Very bravely, in many cases, given the possible repercussions. (Contrast that to Christians, who tend to either circle the wagons or protest that the fundy/sect under scrutiny is No True Christian™) On the down-side, finding objective info other than of Muslim/Sikh origin, but that definitely hasn’t been filtered through obviously racist groups/sites, is proving quite hard—precisely because the Asian aspect means that most of our media don’t give a damn until a white person gets hurt.
actually, from what i’ve been hearing in the UK, they don’t give a damn when a white person gets hurt either. XP
It is an absolute travesty this draconian practice hasn’t been made illegal. You’re both right to point out all the tip-toeing that takes place around the issue. No politician in the land wants to get their hands dirty with this toxic issue for fear of being branded a racist. We seem incapable of having a rational debate in this country about multiculturalism.
Tragically it’s the fringes (radical religious zealots and mindless EDF and BNP foot soldiers) that are reaping the benefits from this paralysing intransigence from the sane centre ground majority. The rise of the far right is becoming a huge issue for Europe and the UK is not immune from this scourge. Political liberalism has failed on this front. It lacks the backbone and concerns itself too much with worrying about offending Muslim and other religious moderates.