Home Office cowardice

One of the reasons we have members of Parliament, in our democracy is because we vote these people into power to make decision on our behalf. The reason for this is that we trust them to use their judgment, run of the country, and create new laws where necessary. Another important reason is that it frees us from mob rule, and allows our politicians to make tough decisions. Due to the complexity of government it is necessary that the some of this work is done by unelected people such as Baroness Scotland.

Now yesterday the Home Office, announced in their press release that they would not be pursuing legislation to outlaw forced marriage. I make no apology for returning to this topic. Home Office minister the Right Honourable Baroness Scotland QC, is quoted as follows "Forced marriage is an abuse of human rights and a form of domestic violence which cannot be justified on religious or cultural grounds. This consultation has been very useful in stimulating debate and generating recommendations from those with expertise in the field.
"Before we consider the possibility of introducing specific legislation, we need to be convinced that it would definitely benefit the victims of forced marriage. Many respondents feared that the creation of a specific offence could isolate victims, prevent reconciliation and drive forced marriage further underground.
"In the future, we will continue to provide information and assistance both to potential victims and to concerned professionals who are confronted by this abuse."

According to the Baroness forced marriage is an abuse of human rights, domestic violence I would suggest that it is also kidnap, rape and sexual abuse. She argues that we need to be convinced that it would definitely benefit the victims, I think we should deter the bullying perpetrators of this crime. She finishes by saying, in the future we will continue to provide information and assistance, I would ask her to consider what sort of future, victims of this appalling crime might expect, now that the Home Office appear to have abandoned them.

Sometimes it is the responsibility of the government to take tough decisions, such as Tony Blair's insistence that we oust Saddam Hussein (this may be right but not popular), I feel this is another one of those decisions, certainly would be very unpopular with some sections of society and by that I mean those the loud bullying religious fundamentalists who have no respect for humanity, society, or the British way of life.

I think it is appalling, that the Home Office, and their political masters seem to cower, before loud non representative special interest groups, at the expense of mainly young defenceless British citizens, presumably these people don't count as much as some of our extreme religious organisations in this country.

The Home Office press release acknowledges that between 175 and 200 people a year are repatriated from abroad, clearly they haven't got a clue of how many never escape from this abhorrent practice.

Anyway I will provide links so that if you're interested you can form your own opinion, personally I feel ashamed that our government is no longer confident in protecting our citizens purely on the basis that they may be first generation British citizens whose parents aren't as familiar with civil rights as their children.

Baroness Scotland's Home Office biography
The Home Office press release
the Guardian for balance

PS I thought I would write to Baroness Scotland, but when I contacted the Home Office, they were unable to give the contact details, and this is the era of open government, just how did they consult if you cannot give contact details. I apologise if I have a bored you, but I believe regardless of race or religious bigotry, British citizens have a right to be defended by their government, however awkward in might seem.