LEADING campaigner against honour based violence has been recognised by Blackburn College. Saima Afzal MBE was given an Honorary Fellowship by the college which she hopes will help to inspire other women to follow in her footsteps. The 42-year-old Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire has come a long way since she escaped a violent […]

She grew up like most teenage girls in Britain – coveting the latest fashions, experimenting with make-up and hanging out with her mates after school. Her Muslim parents, who ran a shop, were respected members of the community. Ayesha, whose name we have changed to protect her identity, was always encouraged to follow her dream […]

Four in five British people want a ban on the wearing of the niqab in public places, but the UK government looks unlikely to bring in legislation. The wearing of the veil, along with attitudes to women, the radicalisation of some young British Muslims, sexual exploitation and grooming cases, forced marriages, and honour-based violence raise […]

A judge says he cannot nullify the marriage of a teenage mother who says she was forced at ‘gunpoint’ into becoming a bride when she was just 14. Instead the girl, now 17 and a mother of a one-year-old, must defy her family if she wants the union formally annulled, said Mr Justice Holman at […]

Declaration barred by section 58(5) of Family Law Act 1986 Mr Justice Holman has dismissed an application, brought by a local authority in the course of care proceedings, for a declaration of non-recognition of the marriage of a British girl, then 14, conducted in Pakistan under circumstances of extreme duress. In A Local Authority v X […]

Author Aruna Papp to speak at honour based violence conference Aruna Papp, author of Unworthy Creature, will be one of the presenters at the honour based violence conference in Calgary next week. On November 12 and 13, the Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association (ACCPA) will host a conference on honour based violence. The conference is […]

 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 […]

Quebec’s Council for the Status of Women says groups that deal with children and families should be given better tools on dealing with cultural differences and so-called ‘honour’ crimes. The Council studied 26 instances of honour crimes that have taken place in Canada since 1991. Twenty-one of those women or girls were murdered; five survived […]

The original tale may be apocryphal, but the story of the silver spoon has saved the lives of hundreds of British Muslim girls being forced into marriage by their parents. “Put a spoon in your knickers,” a counselor at the British organization Karma Nirvanatold a young girl being sent abroad to wed against her will. Karma […]