Women In Britain
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Shafilea Ahmed was a young Muslim woman, who was born and brought up in Britain. At the age of 17 she visited Pakistan with her family for a holiday. There a marriage proposal was made. In order to avoid the marriage Shafilea drunk bleach and disappeared mysteriously a few months later. Her body was found in a river near Cumbria. No one can tell how Shafilea died. She might be a victim of a crime or might have committed suicide. Police considered that Ðshe might have been a victim of Ðhonour killing, the eventual punishment for an Asian woman who brings shame to her family or community (Judd 1). The problem with forced marriage is a taboo in many ways. Many Muslim girls who suffer it often do not understand that they are victims of a human rights cruelty and many will not request help. That is why it is quite difficult for the authorities to indicate the scope of the problem (ÐForced marriage- a wrong not a right 2).
Forced marriage is Ða marriage in which the bride, groom or both are coerced to marry against their will and under duress that includes both physical and emotional pressure (Soriano 1). The case of Shafilea Ahmed is just one of the 1,000 cases of forced marriages that happened in Britain or to British citizens abroad each year (Judd 1). Public opinion is divided as to whether a special legislation against forced marriages should be created. Southall Black Sisters, which is a non-profit organization trying to Ðempower women to gain more control over their lives and assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom (
One of the reasons against creating a special law on forced marriages, given by the Home office report ÐForced marriage- a wrong not a right issued on the September 5, 2005, is that there is a potential danger the problem to be driven Ðfurther underground (4). The Forced Marriage Unit, whose main aim is to protect British nationals who are force to marry (Rice-Oxley 2), annually deals with more than 250 cases of forced marriages. Often those who seek help from caseworkers are young Muslim girls. Before accepting any help offered, the victims first want to be sure that their family will no be put on trial (ÐForced marriage- a wrong not a right 5). If the court is involved, usually victims revoke their forced marriage requests, claiming that there is noting wrong with their marriage (Brandon 2).
Another reason against implementing a specific law on forced marriages is that parents may decide to take their daughters back to their homeland, Pakistan or Bangladesh for instance, at early age and to Ðmarry them off (ÐForced marriage Ðcould be banned” 2). Through this act the potential victims are deprived of attending school and consequently there is a greater possibility the victim to undergo marriage, owing to lack of choice. Muslim families might take their daughters overseas at early age (14-15) because of many reasons. One of which could be that the younger girls are less informed of their rights and more susceptible to be forced to marry. The creation of a definite law might accidentally boost the tendency of parents who take their offspring overseas and will have more time to organize a marriage. This will make it more difficult for British authorities to recognize the potential victims of forced marriage (ÐForced marriage- a wrong not a right 4).
Furthermore, a law on forced marriages could be a restriction to the relationship between the victim and her family. In many cases of forced marriages, the victim often seeks to restore the harmony with her parents. It is possible the reconciliation to be restored but often it takes a long period of time. After implementing a law the fear is that it could make the reconciliation harder, if not impossible, because of the persecutions, which are inevitable result (ÐForced marriage- a wrong not a right 6). Criminalisation of forced marriages could also be misunderstood as an attack on Black and Minority Ethnic communities (ÐForced marriage Ðcould be banned 2). There is a potential risk that the law might be used wrongly against those communities (ÐForced marriage- a wrong not a right 6).
The British Government and INTERIGHTS, on the other hand, have a very strong argumentation that a certain law on forcing someone to marry is needed. First, one of the most important factors that shape public opinion is the law itself. That is why it is considered