A ruling ending a Muslim couple’s union has stunned many in France and for some has raised new concerns about the country’s secular values. In its ruling in April the court concluded that the woman had misrepresented herself and that, in this particular marriage, virginity was a prerequisite. France’s Justice Minister Rachida Dati has since…
A new national helpline for victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence, part-funded by the Forced Marriage Unit, was launched this week by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker. The _Honour Network’, run by the charity Karma Nirvana is a dedicated forced marriage and honour-based violence helpline, staffed by survivors offering emotional and practical support. Home…
A book by a 30 year old Muslim woman named Karima may be told and sold according to a decision by a judge in Verviers. The parents and sisters of the women took legal action to prevent the book from being sold, afraid that it would infringe on their privacy. In the book, Karima tells…
Husbands involved in forced marriages could face prosecution for rape under tough new laws being planned by leading Scottish Asians. As many as 300 young women are believed to be coerced into marriage against their will annually in Scotland, with violence and even murder being the result in a small number of cases. England is…
Thousands of young British Asians are spurning the tradition of allowing their parents to choose their partners and are instead relying on matchmaking via the internet. Online dating is growing increasingly popular with young Muslims, some of whom are forbidden from dating before marriage and have to accept their parents’ choice of partner. Now they…
