Court cannot help pregnant forced bride

A HIGH Court judge has ruled he cannot issue a declaration on the marriage of a 14-year-old Muslim girl who became pregnant after she was taken to Pakistan by her father and forced to wed in “harrowing” circumstances.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Nov 2013, 00:01 BST

The girl said a gun was produced and she had been subjected to violence, said Mr Justice Holman, and she became pregnant when the marriage was consummated two weeks later – following “threats”.

The details emerged in a written ruling following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in Birmingham as a local authority began care proceedings in relation to the girl and her baby.

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The teenager, who was not identified, returned to England and her baby was born.

Local authority officials wanted a “declaration of non-recognition” of the marriage, but Mr Justice Holman ruled the girl would have to initiate proceedings to have the marriage nullified.

“The girl has given an account of the circumstances surrounding that marriage which are, frankly, harrowing,” said the judge.

“The marriage was consummated about two weeks later after further threats to her if she did not permit her husband, who was then aged about 24, to have sexual intercourse with her. As a result, while still aged 14, she became pregnant.”

Mr Justice Holman said the girl’s parents were Muslim and had emigrated from Pakistan to England. He said the girl’s father became a UK citizen more than 30 years ago.