[patrickinator]

please feel free to express your thoughts and opinions...

[Dippy Dip]

Do you mean arranged marriages or actual cases of people being forced to marry against their will?

[Dippy Dip]

And illegal where? I'm certain real forced marriages are already illegal in a number of countries.

[Clip]

They are illegal.

As in, void.

If you're talking about criminal sanction against people encouraging them - I don't see how that's going to work in practice.

[Psyk]

Surely they are illegal already? Obviously the marriage itself won't be valid, and if there is a threat of violence then that must be illegal too. I guess it's a bit trickier if they're being forced into it by financial threats, or something other than violence. For example if someone's parents threatened to throw them out onto the street unless they marry someone.

[Playa10]

(Original post by Clip)
They are illegal.

As in, void.

If you're talking about criminal sanction against people encouraging them - I don't see how that's going to work in practice.

Forced marriages are voidable, not void.

[Clip]

(Original post by Playa10)
Forced marriages are voidable, not void.

Touche.

[TheProdigy2k9]

It's not that simple. Even the person will themselves agree to the marriage for fear of what the family would do to them afterwards

[.eXe]

Is this supposed to be a rhetorical question?

Forced anything shouldn't be allowed.

[JongKey]

It's such a hard thing to prove though because some may stay in the marriage because of fear. I don't see how parents could force their children to marry someone - how can any loving parent ever do that to their own child? It's sick and disgusting and i hope forced marriages get more coverage so that people see that it's a very big problem.

[Psyk]

(Original post by TheProdigy2k9)
It's not that simple. Even the person will themselves agree to the marriage for fear of what the family would do to them afterwards

It is very difficult to police, but presumably if the family threaten violence then it is illegal. Not sure where the law stands when the threats aren't violent in nature though.

(Original post by .eXe)
Forced anything shouldn't be allowed.

Forced prison sentences if you commit a crime? Forced taxation? Forced to go to school as a child?

I suppose if you're an anarchist you may not agree with the last two at least. Presumably even anarchists believe force is sometimes necessary.

[Henwin]

I don't really understand the thread. Why would anyone NOT want them to be illegal? Strange idea for a debate

[Snagprophet]

(Original post by Henwin)
I don't really understand the thread. Why would anyone NOT want them to be illegal? Strange idea for a debate

The same reason why people think homosexuals should be stoned - because they're bat****e ****ing crazy ass dickheads.

[.eXe]

(Original post by Psyk)
It is very difficult to police, but presumably if the family threaten violence then it is illegal. Not sure where the law stands when the threats aren't violent in nature though.



Forced prison sentences if you commit a crime? Forced taxation? Forced to go to school as a child?

I suppose if you're an anarchist you may not agree with the last two at least. Presumably even anarchists believe force is sometimes necessary.

haha! well ofcourse those are legal. What I meant is forced anything which is without cause. Taxation has a cause (that's how a country functions) and criminals do as well (protection for society) as do children (development and learning).

Forced marriage however doesn't seem to have any benefits I can think of. Not to mention, it infringes on the autonomy of the individuals without cause or reason.

[AdvanceAndVanquish]

There is currently a major government consultation going on on this issue. Two of my friends who have done work in this area have testified on opposite sides of the issue. The question is whether forcing someone to marry should be a specific crime, rather than have it covered by other laws which might be applicable in specific cases, such as kidnapping, intimidation, or rape. The argument against it being made a specific crime is that the victim often wants to get out of the situation, but does not want to see their parents and other relatives prosecuted and imprisoned, so they are less likely to seek help if it becomes a specific crime.

[plimsolls]

I remember seeing a woman moaning about this on tv (rightfully so), but what me chuckle was when she said something to the effect of 'This is Britain, how can we say that we approve of this practice here.' Yes, this is Britain. And it is indeed in opposition to British tradition and cultural values. IT'S BEEN IMPORTED IN TO THE COUNTRY YOU SILLY COW.

[Phantom Lord]

Obviously, and I'm pretty sure they're already illegal..

[No Man]

If you mean in Britain, yes. Forced marriages are just another example of lack of integration.