Woman's 'forced marriage' ordeal

Help is available for victims of forced marriages

A Luton woman has told of her forced marriage ordeal in India and how a letter to a British policeman led to her rescue.

The 20-year-old woman, who has changed her name to Ayesha, flew to India with her family last October after being told that her uncle was on his deathbed.

However, when she arrived, her relatives tried to force her into marrying her cousin.

She said her problems began a year ago when she began a relationship with a Nigerian man.

I knew in my heart that the reason they wanted me there was for a marriage

Ayesha

Her uncle, who had brought her up from the age of three, went to local police sergeant Peter Shepherd and claimed that his niece was going off the rails.

He said that Ayesha was taking drugs and had been forced into prostitution.

Mr Shepherd said: "The problem to him was that she had a black boyfriend. He embellished his story, saying that she was being held against her will, was taking drugs and had been forced into prostitution."

However, when Mr Shepherd interviewed Ayesha, he said he found a different person to the one that had been described to him.

"I found an effervescent, intelligent woman going through the world and making her own choices as is her right."

For Ayesha, the incident sparked off a five-and-a-half month ordeal.

She said she was told that her uncle was dying in India and was flown over to visit him.

'Hunger strike'

"That was the only way they could get me over there.

"I knew in my heart that the reason they wanted me there was for a marriage, but because they said he was dying, my emotions got the better of me."

By December, Ayesha was still in India and said it was clear to her that her uncle had only suffered a bout of flu.

She said: "A couple of my relatives got together and said: 'What you did with that black man was not right. You are never going to go back'."

Ayesha then said she was told that her family had received a number of marriage proposals and that they were keen for her to marry one of her cousins.

Successful rescue

By March, Ayesha was desperate and managed to post a letter to Mr Shepherd pleading for his help.

He immediately contacted the Foreign Office when he received the letter in April and three days later, was told that Ayesha had been rescued and was at the British High Commission in Dacca.

Mr Shepherd said: "I don't think I've ever had a better start to the working week."

On Monday, it was announced that police forces in England and Wales will be told that forced marriages in some ethnic communities are not just a cultural issue that can be ignored.

Meanwhile Ayesha is now back in Britain but has no contact with her family.

She said: "This is an experience I would not want anyone to go through.

"I want young women to be aware that there is help out there."