A British man who was promised into marriage at five years old has become the first male in South Yorkshire to be granted a forced marriage protection order.
The teenage boy and his three younger siblings were all protected from becoming victims of forced marriage. The 19-year-old had received threats for not complying to a pre-arranged marriage, to which his parents had agreed when he was five.
It is the first time South Yorkshire police have issued a safeguarding order to protect a male victim from honour-based abuse.
DI Suzanne Jackson said the case was “a huge step forward”.
She said: “This truly highlights how no thoughts are given to the feelings or the longer-term impact caused to victims and their welfare. Understandably it can be very difficult for children and victims who often feel unable to report and potentially prosecute their parents.”
The additional protection orders were a preventative tactic, officers said, “as it is recognised siblings and family members are at greater risk of honour-based abuse if it has already occurred within a family”.
Forced marriage protection orders were introduced in 2014 as part of a change in the law making it a criminal offence to force people into marriage. Those convicted under the act can be jailed for up to seven years. Previously, courts have only been able to issue civil orders to prevent victims being forced into marriage.
Natasha Rattu, from Karma Nirvana, a charity that helps women and men who are subjected to forced marriages and honour-based abuse, said males being forced into marriage was a “hidden problem”.
She said: “Men from minority communities find it very difficult to speak out about abuse so this order is fantastic and will send out a powerful message that it is not just women who are suffering.”
Rattu, the head of learning and development, said the charity had received phone calls from men and hoped this move would encourage more to come forward.
She said: “We’ve spoken to some men who are gay and have been forced into a marriage that they do not want, to be with someone who they are not remotely attracted to. It is unimaginable what this must feel like and we hope more men will seek help.”
