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Conference targets forced marriages
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| Artist Jeroo Roy with one of her paintings on show at the conference |
MORE than one forced marriage a week takes place in Oxford, according to the organisers of a new project aimed at stamping out the practice.
The Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board wants to raise awareness of the issue and the honour-based violence which surrounds it.
Each year the city witnesses at least 60 forced marriages - as compared to arranged marriages where both parties consent - but, experts say that the figure is a "gross under- representation".
A conference was held at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium yesterday in a bid to highlight the problem. It is the first time a group has been pulled together to discuss the problem in the UK - and organisers said the interest had been "immense".
Project leader Laetisia Staniforth said: "It is estimated at least 60 forced marriages take place in Oxford alone - not Oxfordshire- each year.
"And that is considered a gross under-representation.
"Honour-based crimes are motivated by the desire to protect the family. Different members of the family may be the perpetrators, or they may come from the extended family or the wider community that the victim has never met before.
"The abuse often involves harassment, stalking, kidnap, and, obviously in the most extreme cases, honour killing."
Mrs Staniforth said although police systems were unable to label a murder as an honour killing, there were thought to be 12 linked murders a year in Britain.
In 2004, 19-year-old Arash Ghorbani-Zarin was ambushed in his car in Spencer Crescent, in Rose Hill, Oxford, and stabbed 46 times.
Chomir Ali, 44, and his sons Mohammed Mujibar Rahman, 19, and Mamnoor Rahman, 15 - were jailed for a total of 50 years for the attack after the victim started a relationship with Ali's daughter and got her pregnant.
Mrs Staniforth said: "The most common victims are from India, Bangladesh, Iran, Somalia, Bosnia and Romany-Gipsy communities.
"It is most prevalent among Pakistani Muslim women aged 15 and 24.
"We set out to invite 130 people and we have ended up with 176 from more than 20 organisations. The interest has been immense.
"It has been done in Oxfordshire first because we have had an example of a particularly nasty honour killing and we have identified the need to work in partnership and raise awareness."
6:45am Saturday 29th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: DanOxford on 10:32am Sat 29 Mar 08
[italic]"Mrs Staniforth said: "The most common victims are from India, Bangladesh, Iran, Somalia, Bosnia and Romany-Gipsy communities.
It is most prevalent among Pakistani Muslim women aged 15 and 24."[/italic]
At last! Some honesty! A bit of a contrast from TVP's politically correct lies that this issue affects all cultures and communities.
With a few more people prepared to tell the Emporer about the shortcomings of his birthday attire, we might actually get round to tackling real issues and helping real victims, rather than ensuring that all investigations have covered themselves against Leftie liberal cries of 'racism!' by wasting resources on people and communities that are the issue clearly doesn't involve.
Perhaps now we can stop searching little old ladies as suspected terrorists and drug dealers.
"Mrs Staniforth said: "The most common victims are from India, Bangladesh, Iran, Somalia, Bosnia and Romany-Gipsy communities.
It is most prevalent among Pakistani Muslim women aged 15 and 24."
At last! Some honesty! A bit of a contrast from TVP's politically correct lies that this issue affects all cultures and communities.
With a few more people prepared to tell the Emporer about the shortcomings of his birthday attire, we might actually get round to tackling real issues and helping real victims, rather than ensuring that all investigations have covered themselves against Leftie liberal cries of 'racism!' by wasting resources on people and communities that are the issue clearly doesn't involve.
Perhaps now we can stop searching little old ladies as suspected terrorists and drug dealers.
Posted by: BlackMAn, oxford on 3:41pm Sat 29 Mar 08
i dont ever see this Dan guy say anything when other races come into the news...but he jumps to great details the moment he sees anything to with Brown people and black people....
lets see you make remarks about the vast maj. news makers...... white people
come on be a real man
speak the truth now
or is it in your world only none whites are evil !!!!!
i dont ever see this Dan guy say anything when other races come into the news...but he jumps to great details the moment he sees anything to with Brown people and black people....
lets see you make remarks about the vast maj. news makers...... white people
come on be a real man
speak the truth now
or is it in your world only none whites are evil !!!!!
Posted by: Hunt on 3:43pm Sat 29 Mar 08
i have noticed that also
if he has real points he can say, but he seemto say only when ............ you knowwhat i mean
i have noticed that also
if he has real points he can say, but he seemto say only when ............ you knowwhat i mean
Posted by: DanOxford on 5:10pm Sat 29 Mar 08
Yes- blackman and hunt- I [bold]DO[/bold] know what you mean- you mean that we have to ignore the real issues, the real victims and the real criminals while we 'smoke out' the racists and pretend that every issue and every crime affects everyone equally, when they don't.
It's people like you that waste Police time and put victims at risk because you're more interested in 'racism' than catching criminals and preventing further abuse.
The expert says this is mainly a Pakistani Muslim problem, but let's spend 85% of Police time on this issue investigating the 85% of people who describe themselves as 'White British' just so we can avoid being 'racist'.
When the (White Catholic Irish) IRA were blowing people up, how much time did the Police spend investigating inner city Pakistani Muslim men for the crimes?
I'm afraid you're both just brainwashed victims of the Thought Crime Police, denying the bl**ding obvious so as not to 'offend'.
Yes- blackman and hunt- I
DO know what you mean- you mean that we have to ignore the real issues, the real victims and the real criminals while we 'smoke out' the racists and pretend that every issue and every crime affects everyone equally, when they don't.
It's people like you that waste Police time and put victims at risk because you're more interested in 'racism' than catching criminals and preventing further abuse.
The expert says this is mainly a Pakistani Muslim problem, but let's spend 85% of Police time on this issue investigating the 85% of people who describe themselves as 'White British' just so we can avoid being 'racist'.
When the (White Catholic Irish) IRA were blowing people up, how much time did the Police spend investigating inner city Pakistani Muslim men for the crimes?
I'm afraid you're both just brainwashed victims of the Thought Crime Police, denying the bl**ding obvious so as not to 'offend'.
Posted by: Hunt, oxford on 11:45am Sun 30 Mar 08
Dan, Dan dan, how much can be seen about the unseen, the un spoken...... i stil say you are just after the blacks and browns
......if u dont like it well...........
you fell you have a God given right to speak your mind, well so have every one else
i will be looking out to see on how other issues you would have your words of wisdom or not so wise words, like most of the time
.... get a life, look out of the window
Dan, Dan dan, how much can be seen about the unseen, the un spoken...... i stil say you are just after the blacks and browns
......if u dont like it well...........
you fell you have a God given right to speak your mind, well so have every one else
i will be looking out to see on how other issues you would have your words of wisdom or not so wise words, like most of the time
.... get a life, look out of the window
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