14-year-old girl became pregnant after being taken to Pakistan by her father and forced to marry a man, a judge has said.
She was subjected to violence during which a gun was produced, according to Mr Justice Holman. The girl returned to England where she gave birth. Details emerged in a written ruling following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in Birmingham.
‘Harrowing’
Two weeks after the ceremony, the marriage was consummated, the ruling said. The judge said: “The girl has given an account of the circumstances surrounding that marriage which are, frankly, harrowing. “On her account… this was a grave example of a marriage which was forced under considerable duress, involving at one stage the production of a gun and physical violence upon her.
“The marriage was consummated about two weeks later after further threats to her if she did not permit her husband, who was then aged about 24, to have sexual intercourse with her. “As a result, while still aged 14, she became pregnant.”
Local authority officials wanted the marriage nullified, but the judge said the girl would have to initiate proceedings herself for this to take place.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24819609
Tags: child brides, forced marriage, halo project, honour based violence, victims
