Spotlight: Forced to Marry
Saira Khan investigates the dramatic stories of British Asians taken to Pakistan by their parents and forced to marry against their will. With exclusive access to the Government's Forced Marriages Unit and its office in Islamabad, the programme follows the dramatic rescues of young women in remote rural communities in Pakistan.
For reasons of immigration, honour, money and family ties, some British Pakistani parents insist their children marry cousins and will ignore their wishes. If girls refuse they face being cut off from their families or worse. With the government introducing new powers to try and stop the practice, Saira Khan asks why in the 21st Century the forced marriages still happen.
About Spotlight
Spotlight is a Link TV weekly presentation of investigative reports from around the world. Commentary is provided by prominent authors and journalists. This episode is hosted by Lakshmi Chaudhry, who has been a reporter and editor for independent publications, including Mother Jones and AlterNet, for over six years. She is currently a senior editor at In These Times.