THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Germany's government has proposed criminalising forced marriage in an attempt to wipe out the traditional Muslim practice.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet agreed to a proposed law that would make forced marriage in Germany a crime that can be punished with up to five years in prison.
The legislation still needs to pass parliament.
"Forced marriages are a serious problem in Germany," Thomas de Maiziere, the interior minister, said, adding that by criminalising them Germany would make clear that this is no longer "a tradition from olden times or different cultures that is ... tolerable."
About 4.3 million Muslims live in Germany, and forced marriage is still fairly common, especially among Turks and Arabs.
There are no official figures on the number of forced marriages, but rights groups say that increasing numbers of young immigrants who grew up in Germany and identify with Western values and the right to choose their own partners are rebelling against the tradition. >>> | Thursday, October 28, 2010
