An MP is lobbying support to demand the Government make the "inhuman act" of forced marriage a criminal offence.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer is putting down an early day motion in the House of Commons calling for the Government to take action against a practice which she said could involve abduction, kidnap, false imprisonment, rape and assault of those being forced to marry.

She says Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights is being breached daily and the Government must legislate to "...deter those contemplating the procurement of this unIslamic and inhuman act".

Mrs Cryer has accused communities of burying their heads in the sand, believing the behaviour does not happen.

"There are so many girls that do not know where to turn or that they can challenge what is happening to them,'' she said.

If we get a law girls can turn to their parents and say it is an offence. I hope we never get to the point where we have parents being put in prison but it will act as a deterrent.

"West Yorkshire Police, MPs and the Forced Marriage Unit attached to the Home Office are doing good work but more needs to be done. It is about stopping it before it begins."

Between October 2005 and September 2006, 211 cases of women being forced to marry or about to be made to marry were reported to West Yorkshire Police, with 177 from the Bradford district. Bradford North Labour MP Terry Rooney, who is signing the motion, fears many more incidents go unreported.

"It is like child abuse. People know it happens but do not know the extent of it," he said.

"It is still happening and something needs to be done about it and concentrate people's minds.

"The Home Office say there are enough laws so there is obviously a problem implementing them."

He said the problem with the Forced Marriage Unit was it only dealt with British cases and many involved women of dual nationality.

Mrs Cryer said the reports were the "tip of the iceberg."

Her call for action comes days after a Bradford father-of-three was murdered during a family dispute over his daughter's marriage to her cousin. Aksan Askan, 47, was shot dead in Pakistan after his daughter Shamim Akhtar, 24, had refused to live there with her husband Shakoor Khan, 26.

Mr Aksan, a delivery driver, and his family, who live in Lidget Green, Bradford, had supported her decision to remain in the UK, said his son Amhed Nawaz, 21.

His death is now being investigated by police in Pakistan.

The Home Office shelved plans to make forced marriage a criminal offence in June but insisted it "remained a possibility" for the future but only if it were in the best interest of victims.

Other MPs to have signed the motion include Shipley MP Philip Davies, Calder Valley MP Chris McCafferty, Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan, Bury North MP David Chaytor and Halifax MP Linda Riordan.

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