Women’s groups in Scotland have claimed that criminalisation of forced marriage in Scotland hindered rather than helped efforts to help victims. The practice, associated with certain cultures, was outlawed north of the border in September 2014, three months after similar legislation appeared in England and Wales. Convictions have followed in England but not in Scotland, the […]

An award-winning charity, which rescues women from forced marriage and hundreds of young people from radicalisation, faces closure in a matter of months if it does not receive further funding. Founded in 1989, JAN Trust was originally set up to support marginalised and isolated communities in north London, but has since expanded to reach people […]

She saw the blade, but dared not move. That was the command! If she did, it would haunt her, her children and the generations to come. That was the cultural notion. The closer the rusty blade got to her, the more frightened she was. Syada Chebet (middle) is now an activist against Female Genital Mutilation […]

Only 18 of the new specialist protection orders designed to shield young girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) have been issued since they were introduced three months ago, according to Government figures. From July to September only 28 applications were made, of which 18 were approved; a remarkably small number considering the estimated 63,000 young girls […]

The Metropolitan police (MPS) needs to be more prepared for how it would protect victims of honour based violence. A new report, the first of its kind on honour crimes, found the force is under-prepared in keeping victims of forced marriages and female genital mutilation safe. The report, carried out by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of […]

Victims of honour based violence are being failed by the majority of police forces in England and Wales, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). In its first ever inspection of the way police deal with honour-based violence, including female genital mutilation and forced marriage, HMIC reveals that just three out of 43 forces […]

Sharia courts operating in the UK are treating women as second-class citizens, a damning report has revealed. The secretive Islamic tribunals, working mainly from mosques, settle financial and family disputes according to religious principles. But the parallel justice system runs against the law of the land and is condemning British Muslim women to ‘marital captivity’ […]

A Muslim mother and father who murdered their own daughter for bringing ‘shame’ on the family because she had sex with a man they did not approve of have been caged for life in Germany. The so-called ‘honour killing’ of Lareeb Khan, 19, was carried out by her father Azadullah, 52, who crept into her bedroom […]

BEDFORDSHIRE police is calling for victims of forced marriage within the county to seek support as part of its 16 days of action against domestic abuse.  Around 8,000 to 10,000 forced marriages occur each year within the UK and it remains grossly under-reported. Last year Bedfordshire Police had 149 reports of honour based abuse or […]