The recent case in Ohio when a US judge invalidated a Muslim arranged marriage highlights the need to protect young girls from being forced into marriages by their parents or guardians. A year ago, the UK introduced the Forced Marriage and Civil Protection Act in an attempt to do just that. Since then, 86 forced marriage protection orders have been issued, and several illegal forced marriages annulled by the British courts.
Recently a 17-year old boy was convicted in a London court of raping her cousin. He was 16-year old when he was involved in an arranged marriage in which her then 12-year old cousin was forced into it.
The girl’s father was 29 years old. The marriage ceremony was arranged by this father, in front of her uncle and aunt, both aged 54. After the ceremony, the boy then consummated the marriage. The prosecutor called it a rape, which was carried out with the approval of the girl’s father, his brother and sister-in-law.
The boy was convicted of rape, and the girl’s father, uncle and aunt were convicted of causing or inciting underage sexual activity.
The police were called in when the girl’s mother found out what the family members had done to her daughter. But the guilty parties are currently out on bail, and will remain free until next month when the court will pass sentences on them.
Now some people are fearful for the safety of the girl and her mother. During this short period of freedom, there is no telling what these convicted people will do. In some parts of the world, Muslim families practise a system of honor killing. This is applied, for example, when a girl runs away from a arranged marriage, an act which brings shame and dishonor to the girl’s family. In order to restore their honor, they resort to killing their runaway daughters. Britain had its share of honor killing cases in the past. A study funded by the Home Office last year found that at least 3,000 young women in Britain are victims of forced marriages each year.
Shahien Taj, from the women’s charity, the Henna Foundation urged police and social services to urgently protect mother and daughter from their extended family or community.
Think about it. In this day and age, why do parents still think of forcing their very young daughters into arranged marriages? And in places where this is illegal, why do they still persist in having arranged marriages?
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