Are arranged marriages illegal in the UK?

Answer 1

Yes, in the United Kingdom, forced marriage is highly illegal and is treated as a serious crime by law enforcement.



Definition and Information
Forced marriage is defined as an individual being pressured, threatened or forced into a marriage which that individual does not want to be a part of. It is a barbaric cultural practice which is performed by some traditional Arabic and Asian families.

Families which practice this barbaric act will often warn their children that they will face harm, will be killed or will "bring shame" if they do not go ahead with the marriage. This is a form of abuse, specifically psychological abuse, which is also illegal.
Women forced into marriage are often subjected to physical violence and sexual abuse.



The Law
The United Kingdom is a permanent member of the United Nations and strictly enforces the international human rights laws. Which also forbids forced marriages as it takes away an individual's human rights.

Aside from human rights, forced marriage has always been illegal in the UK.
However those put on trial before 2014 were done so with a long list of charges that were associated with forced marriage, such as assault and so on. But as of 2014, a new law was passed, specifically making forced marriages 100% illegal, which shortens the process of securing a criminal conviction and makes cases quicker to deal with.

Even if the parents take their child out of the UK to get force them into a marriage in Another Country, that is still a crime. Taking an individual out of the country unwillingly, even if the people taking the person are their parents, is also kidnapping. The parents and the others involved in forcing you into the marriage can be arrested as soon as they return back to the UK.



Victims, Reporting and Getting Help
If you are a victim of a forced marriage, believe you will be a victim or suspect someone to be a victim, please contact the authorities immediately. The law is on your side. You will be protected from physical harm.

There is no shame that will be brought upon anybody for your refusing to be forced into a marriage.
Your forced marriage will be cancelled (annulled) by the British court, since it is not a legally recognised marriage. The partner you were forced to marry and any family members that participated will be arrested. Any other individuals in the family at risk of forced marriages will have a protection order placed upon them by a judge.

There is also a charity called Karma Nirvana, which has been set up by forced marriage survivors to help others in forced marriages or at risk of going into one. You can find them in the links further below. This charity will provide you all the help you need once you are free.


The emergency telephone number in the United Kingdom is 999.

• You will be asked what emergency service you require. Say "police".
• Within seconds, you will be speaking to the police emergency centre.
• The emergency number is free to call from any phone in the UK, including public phone boxes.
• You can also contact the police by texting from a mobile phone. See the link further below.

Escaping
If you need to escape from somewhere, such as a home, to report the forced marriage, here are some tips:

1. Plan carefully. It helps to know everyone's schedules and where any nearby access to a phone is.
   
   
2. If you can, make an excuse to leave the home, for example state that you are going to the local shop. Use this opportunity to reach a telephone and call the police. Do not return to the home, wait for the police to arrive.
   
   
3. If it is not possible for you to make an excuse to leave the home, try to find a chance to walk out of the house while the family are busy, for example at work.
   
   
4. If you are locked in a room:
   
   • Best case scenario: Try to grab attention by flagging someone from the window and requesting they send the police to you.
   • Worse case scenario: If you are certain nobody else is in the building, put on some flat-soled shoes. If you kick the door just below the keyhole with the bottom (sole) of your foot. You will weaken it. Repeat a couple more times until the door opens. Don't use your toes (using your toes will likely cause them to break instead of the door).
     
     
5. As soon as you are out the building, head to the nearest phone. If there is no public phone nearby, you can use the phone in public buildings, such as libraries, if you ask them and say it is an emergency. if a police station is within walking distance, head there instead.
   
   
6. If you are at an airport and about to be forced to go to another country for a marriage, inform the airport security or an airport police officer at your earliest opportunity, for example when you're about to go through a body scan.
   
   

Links:

• Karma Nirvana Charity
• Forced Marriage information on the Official British Government website for victims
• Forced Marriage information on the Official British Government website for everyone
• Texting emergency services from a mobile phone
• News article on the 2014 law against forced marriage

Answer 2

Yes - forced marriage IS illegal in the UK.

Answer 3

yes