Community groups say the government is not doing enough to stem the threats, intimidation and violence that are used by some parents to make unwilling youngsters accept arranged marriages abroad.

Such marriages are a small, but growing problem. They mainly involve families from the Indian sub-continent, particularly Pakistan.

More than 200 cases were recorded there last year.

The Foreign Office has admitted that the growing number of young Asian women and men being forced into such marriages poses a significant problem.

Such action could constitute a criminal offence and ministers are being asked to spell this out more clearly.

Hannana Siddiqui says ministers fear alienating Asians

But community groups say the lack of government action comes from a fear of alienating Asians living in the UK who might see it as an attack on arranged marriages.

The government has published advice for young people who think they might be vulnerable, but this has been criticised for being inadequate.

Women's rights campaigner Hannana Siddiqui says the Foreign Office and the British Consulate often refuse to intervene on the grounds that they have to tolerate the practises of the country concerned. They say that a lack of tolerance would be insensitive.

Baroness Symons: The issue is taken very seriously.

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Symons says the issue is taken very seriously.

She argues that it would be wrong to pass judgement on religions that run successful marriages, but where the marriages are known to be forced it is viewed as wholly unacceptable.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©