Everyone should have a choice in who they marry. That was the message at Azhar Academy Girls School, who arranged a forced marriage campaign to raise awareness of the issue.
Guest speakers at the school in Romford Road, Forest Gate, included representatives from the government’s Forced Marriage Unit and the Sharan project, which helps vulnerable women from south Asian communities.
Also speaking at the event was Cmdr Mak Chishty, the highest-ranking Muslim police officer in the UK.
Part of the afternoon saw girls and guests alike write statements on why they are against forced marriage, which were then put on display in the school.
They also learnt about the signs of forced marriage and where to go for support should they or a friend find themselves at risk.
Tags: forced marriage, Forest Gate, halo project, haloproject, honour based violence, marriage, Muslim, Romford
