subject: UK Dishonour Killings Campaigner Calls for a Halt to Senseless Killings After UK Family is Shot Dead in Family Marriage Dispute in Pakistan [print this page] UK Dishonour Killings Campaigner Calls for a Halt to Senseless Killings After UK Family is Shot Dead in Family Marriage Dispute in Pakistan
The leading UK campaigner against dishonour killings and forced marriages within British Asian communities is demanding a halt to murder and intimidation of young women and men caught up in cultural feuds over their freedom to choose their partners.
Aneeta Prem, who has recently founded Freedom, a new charity aimed at supporting young people caught up in cultural disagreements over arranged marriages and who they can and cannot date, said she was appalled by this latest incident.
"This British Asian family were in Pakistan visiting relatives and going to a family wedding. Somewhere along the way they apparently became embroiled in a marriage dispute with other relatives and while they were paying their respects at a graveside were gunned down in cold blood.
"There have been many incidents in the UK Asian communities where young women and men, who are also affected have been beaten, kidnapped, intimidated and killed by their own families, if they dared disobey commands to marry someone against their will. Many, many more bow to the pressure and marry people they have never even met. It is time to stop the brutality and give people the freedom to choose for themselves.
"This case is a clear demonstration of how warped people's views can become when the lives of innocent people are taken away. Dishonour-based violence is rife in certain communities within the UK and it can often lead to murder. We must raise this issue to the top of the political agenda and stamp it out. With a new coalition government in place now is the time to do something to stop the violence.
"I have worked for many years in this area with successive governments and police and I know there is support for tougher measures to educate people and erase this cancer from our Asian communities. I have been threatened myself for my views but I will not stop speaking up until we have stability and law and order within all of our Asian communities."
"This horrific murder is not an isolated incident; our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends."
One of the aims of Freedom is to highlight the dangers that people face due to dishonour based violence and forced marriages.
http://www.freedomcharity.org.uk/
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