Muslims Lawyers to Combat Forced Marriages
Posted on 26 June 2008 by Halima Khatun
In today’s forward-looking multicultural society, the “forced marriage” is still an issue that dogs some Asian communities. “Honour killings” and missing Asian girls have become a frequent occurrence on local - and even national media. It is perhaps true that only those within such communities can understand the true extent of the issue. That is why British Muslim lawyers have recently announced that they have decided to take the matter into their own hands with a radical plan to combat the forced marriage “crisis” in the community.
Backed by heavyweight sheikhs and muftis, the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal (MAT) proposed setting up their own system to tackle the widespread culture of forced marriages. Sheikh Faiz Siddiqi, a barrister and a leading community figure said the resentment and alienation created by forced marriages drove young British Muslims towards extremism. Adding further that going through the British courts to resolve a forced marriage leaves the victim “ostracised by the community”.
Forced marriages leave young Muslims feeling frustrated by the British system and their communities, he added, saying it was “little wonder” some went off the rails.
“A lot of people who are steering towards extremism are those who have been rejected by the mainstream Muslim society or the mainstream establishment.”
The shocking statement made by Sheikh Faiz Siddiqi paints a sorry picture of some Muslim communities in the UK. Marriage is, and always will be a necessity for most young Muslims, and it will take perhaps more than a full generation to change that.
However, when a young person is forced into a marriage, through fear of being ostracised, or worse, that is when the authorities need to step in. The problem unfortunately is that the British police force have always been out of touch with the issue. It’s often a case of not doing enough, or sometimes even doing too much. A while back there was the story of a 22-year-old man who was jailed for 15 months for sending a ‘threatening text message’, to his sister who had run away from home. On the other hand, there was the heartbreaking story of a 20-year old Muslim woman who was murdered by her family because she had a boyfriend; she didn’t receive the protection she needed from the police, despite the fact that she had been into hospital several times due to domestic abuse.
The alliance being formed by British Muslims lawyers to fight the problem from within is long overdue. I just wish, for the above cases and many more, that it had happened much, much sooner.
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed and/or sign-up to our mailing list for updates.
   (7 votes. Average: 3.67 out of 5) |
Tags : marriage
Related Posts:
- The case of Humayra Abedin
- The Masoods - Hardly a Believable Set Up
- What makes a Muslim Woman Powerful?
- Ramadan Festival comes to London
- ‘Jihad for love’ to air on More 4
Loading ...
June 26th, 2008 at 11:20 am
An interesting read but what and how exactly will this organisation do to help? Does the girl/boy have to approach them before the wedding and they offer advice on how to get out it or talk to the family putting the pressure on them or is it just promoting awareness and changing behaviour? How do you contact them? And do they help other victims who are not Muslim? Forced marriages have occurred in other religions too.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
There are brave women and activists in Britian who are campaigning and countering these backward practices against forced marriages and honour crimes. These Sheikhs or clerics from MAT who now claim to care about the plight of Muslim women are infact Islamists who are in fact influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood ideologies and are using out plight in order to establish their kangaroo Sharia courts with judges.
Forced marriages are a crime, full stop . They are attempting to normalise sharia courts in Britain, which women like me dispute. We Muslim women do not need sharia law courts to tell us what is wrong or unislamic. The British Law should protect us and support us towards emancipation.
The point people are missing here is that Islamists are using either our divorce plight and now the forced marriage issue in order to establish Sharia law In Britian - for their own political and ideological agenda. They should be rejected. Muslim women know how to fight their own corner in a democracy where they are treated as equal human beings, we just want our government to listen to our voices rather than allow any more of the Muslim male hierachy speaking for us..truth is many Muslim male dominated organisations don’t give a damn about the emancipation of Muslim women..it’s against their theology,so don’t be fooled people.
June 26th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I think it’s the government, in fear of somehow insulting the asian masses, and attemoting to be politically correct, not doing enough.
HOw many more women (and some men) have to go through this turmoil and have their lives ruined before someone with adequate leverage steps in??
June 26th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
And wahst with the use of a hijabi in the picture? How is that relevent?
That, forced marriage is an islam driven problem? Dunno why we blame the right wing papers, we do it ourselves.
June 28th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
The British legal system here is probably doing, and has done, far more to support the victims of the forced marriage crime than what the law enforcers in Asian countries are doing.
It’s not fair to suggest that the British system is frustrating all forced marriage victims because as somebody living within an Asian community where forced marriages are pretty much the norm amongst the Pakistani community, I know the sort of various types of support that is available to the victims. Advice centres, womens bgroups etc are some of the places where these victims can find solace IF they choose to.
It’s the ideology of forced marriages that needs to be dealt with and eradicated not the alteration of the Britsh legal system.
Also - what is with the picture of a fearful mMslim woman? Forced marriages do take place in communities outside the Muslim one as well y’kno..but then Muslims, forced marriages and the link to Islamic extremism is far too headline grabbing to miss.
June 28th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Jus, the title “Muslim Lawyers to Combat Forced Marriages” might explain the use of the Muslim woman in the picture.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
^
Forced marriages do happen outside of the Muslim community too (but those cases are probably less senstational and media attention worthy right now) so a religion neutral piccie would have been the better choice imho.
Anyway anything being done to bring this backwardness to an end is worth its salt - whether its focus is the Muslim community or not.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Anything is better than nothing, i agree, but if one is going to solve the problem, you need to make a proper diagnosis. Using Muslim slogans and pictures, is mis-leading, and it detracts from a correct analysis of the problem.You’re adding miles to an already long journey.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:27 am
forced marriages is a crime full stop, the british courts tread carefully
thy do not want 2 upset the asian community
however its time to enforce the law nw
stop messing about & actaully deal wit the issue
thy need 2 set up a unit which has knowledge of past experiences these forced marriage victims suffer
i think every1 is goin out of hand regarding the picture of the lady wearing a headscarf, the title is “Muslims Lawyers to Combat Forced Marriages” after all. the picture could be emphasizing the fact of a muslim woman . its nt tht hard is it?
only if yer narrow minded u wud take offence 2 it?
June 29th, 2008 at 10:55 am
^
The fact of forced marriages occuring to British Muslim one is true to SOME and NOT all women. The assumption that ALL Muslim women wear a headscarve is also untrue. The issue about Muslim women being portrayed as oppressed and products of a male dominated society is what is being addressed here. We as British Muslim women get categorised anyway - with no choice in the matter from the tabloid newspapers and what have you, so we really could do without more of the same from Asian media mediums which should work to help put misconceptions straight.
June 29th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
jUS has made my point. jinx believes we are being narrow minded, but i think, we are being vocal(about time too) in standing upto the mis-characterisation of a faith pracrised by 2 billion people, that occurs all too often by the western media and even Muslim ones and the scary thing being, as this case has proven, all without realizing AND sometimes, again as some adviocate, because of laziness( oh i cant be bothered to correct it, its no big deal, we know what they mean– do they? do the white people know what it means? ). Fair enough, i get you, we can just look away and ignore it, as i wnated to do at first, but you have to understand, that un-less muslims themselves take a stand, at one point or another, the stereotyping and demonization becomes the apparent image of that minority group.
And if left un-chekced, we will, mark my word, as you have seen in some instances, have backlashes. Islam is our faith, we must, only we, decide what it represents, not, out of sheer laziness, leave it to those with vested interest to distort it. There ate many who will, including muslims.
As jus said, not all muslims wear hijab. An asian looking girl,would of been adequate. We must understand the climate and what the hijab symbolizes in this day and age. If you cant see that, then im afraid, u are not clued up with life post 9/11. Its the rwality.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I think that prior to commenting the report from MAT’S website should be read. I believe its an excellent proposition and the sister is in correct to suggest that it is a totally male dominated arbitration court when there are also Muslim female judges.
It is not about advancing an ideology or a political agenda but simply to root forced marriages by empowering the community.
Hence it is incorrect to suggest otherwise and these judges involved are not backwards but very progressive in their thinking. The problem we have is that there is only a few of them.
July 11th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I agree with G.Khan. This seems like a way of Muslims getting their foot in the door to establish their own justice system.
November 9th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
why is this topic being aimed at muslims for?
veryone knows that there are lots of other cultures which forced their childern into marriage
and what has the veil got to do with forced marriages?
its completly inappropriate.
islam is not about being forced to do anything, its about being taught, and then using ur knowledge to move further in life!
islam is being targeted ….but then again….its the worlds fast growing religion!
November 13th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Serious issue, needs to be sorted out, we live in a western society, and need to adopt their culture more than out tradition culture. It’s the 21st century, if people want to live old fashioned then they should go back to where they came from!
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm
hmmmmm……
God knows what will happen to this world
January 12th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
@ ameena z. rai
too true…
September 10th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.