Scheme to tackle 'honour' crime

Where there is forced marriage there is also likely to be rape

A project to raise awareness and the understanding of so-called "honour" crimes and forced marriages is to get under way in the Thames Valley area.

The scheme is a response to fears such crimes are "vastly under-reported" and victims are not aware there is help available.

The Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board scheme is funded by the Office of Criminal Justice Reform.

There have been two honour killings in Oxfordshire, a board spokeswoman said.

Where there is forced marriage there is also likely to be rape and domestic abuse The Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board

In 2005, Bangladeshi waiter Chomir Ali, 44, was jailed for 20 years for ordering his two sons to carry out the "honour killing" of his daughter's boyfriend after she became pregnant.

The body of electrical engineering student Arash Ghorbani-Zarin, 19, was found with 46 stab wounds in Oxford on 20 November 2004.

Ali's sons Mujibar Rahman, 19, and Mamnoor Rahman, 16, were given minimum terms of 16 and 14 years respectively.

At the time, Mr Justice Gross, at the Old Bailey in London, described it as a "cold-blooded intentional killing".

The spokeswoman from the Thames Valley Local Criminal Justice Board added: "Honour-based violence and forced marriage issues cut across many cultures and communities.

'Child protection issue'

"Where there is forced marriage there is also likely to be rape and domestic abuse.

"Honour-based violence is also a child protection issue.

"It is important to note that honour-based violence and forced marriage are not supported by any religion and that the problem cuts across all faiths."

A multi-agency conference on the new service will be held at the Kassam Stadium on 28 March. It will be opened by Baroness Scotland of Asthal.

Earlier this month, security minister Lord West of Spithead said so-called "honour" murders are a form of domestic violence.

But the peer rejected calls for forced marriage to become a criminal offence.