5:06am Monday 4th February 2008
By Paddy McGuffin
A report into honour-based violence published today suggests that there were some 400 forced marriage cases in the Bradford area last year alone.
The report, by the Centre for Social Cohesion, aims to assess levels of honour-based crimes including forced marriage and so-called honour-killings' in the UK.
The report's authors say that such crimes are under-estimated in areas such as Bradford.
The document, Crimes of the Community: Honour-based violence in the UK' is by James Brandon and Salam Hafez, research fellows at the Centre for Social Cohesion.
Mr Brandon said: "These findings show that the Government is still not taking honour crime seriously.
"Until this happens, the ideas of honour which perpetuate this violence will continue to be passed from generation to generation. Religious leaders, local authorities and central government need to work together to end such abuses of human rights."
Salam Hafez said: "It is appalling that we are still witnessing these human rights abuses in the UK in 2008."
One of those interviewed is Philip Balmforth, a former Bradford police officer, who works specifically with vulnerable Asian women in the area.
Mr Balmforth is quoted as saying that he saw 395 cases of forced marriage in Bradford last year, some involving girls as young as 14.
"I had a case of a 14-year-old girl at school," he told the authors. "The teacher tells me that the girl claims to have been married. So I went along to the school with a Muslim colleague. We saw the girl. We asked her a few questions and we were not sure. Then the girl said: If you don't believe me I have the video at home.'"
Mr Balmforth also queries national figures for honour killings'. The Crown Prosecution Service puts the figure at an average of ten to 12 each year.
Mr Balmforth said: "From my position in Bradford, it seems that the figure could be much higher."
Mr Balmforth has worked with Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer who has campaigned on this issue. Mrs Cryer said: "Philip knows what he is talking about. He deals with these issues day in, day out. The figure of 400 forced marriages a year in the Bradford area does not surprise me, in fact it may be much higher than that. I personally deal with a case every two or three weeks.
"In terms of honour-based killings I don't think there has been one in Bradford for quite some time but that doesn't mean that honour-based violence is not occurring."
There is also the issue of people being afraid to speak out on the issue for fear of being branded racist.' "I have had that thrown at me since I began campaigning," said Mrs Cryer.
"People need to realise my work is all about protecting and helping young Asian women."
Dr Bary Malik, of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Bradford, said that if the figure was accurate it was alarming and should be a wake up call to us all.
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