Cannot believe this bigotry

Just read a report re the population of Leicester and the Pakistani population is only 1.6 % despite having over 50% foreigners in town.
So I imagine that some of us who live in cities where most of the Asian residents are Pakistanis, may wll have a very different view of multiculturalism as mine. Leicester is perhaps the most tolerant, vibrant and working multicultural town in the UK. I just loved it.

I've worked a lot with Irish travellers and confirm that education is increasingly recognised as essential. Families know that literacy and numeracy are essential. I genuinely enjoyed involvement in that community and don't mean that remark to be patronising in any way.
I know less about the Roma community but have attended events at Manchester uni where a research programme into Roma in the uk is ongoing. The last one was also attended by a number of young men from the Roma community it now studying at Manchester metropolitan uni. They talked about how difficult it was to get an education in Eastern Europe where (the said) schools turned them away because of their heritage. One of the speakers was the head teacher at the primary school these young men attended in a very deprived area of Manchester. Her school has the highest number of Roma children and I do know the school well.
sorry for this long post, going back to the OP I hope to clarify my earlier comments weren't intended to be bigoted but only to express the needs of various communities who are easily seen as all bad.

Iam64 - you're not wrong but I've seen the delight of a traveller family in an eight year old daughter who was a good reader. In a secondary school a 15 year old traveller was thrilled to understand the basics of division. My impression was that the girls were indeed expected to mostly marry in their teens but always in a Catholic Church and certainly not under the age of 16. Young but not illegal.

And there are Christian communities where girls are not allowed to study beyond puberty, have to wear long skirts and long sock and scarf, and are expected to marry very young- few in the UK (although I did teach some from extreme brethrens who did have to leave school much against their wishes-) but mainly in Africa and parts of the USA. Not a generally 'Christian' thing- but part of their kind of Christianity, and 'normal' in their cultural group, the Amish, Mormons, Plymouth, and many more.

Iam, it's their culture, seeing a pregnant child can be reported but the travelling etc is their way of life

Yes Annie but these children are living here, in the uk. Travelling communities don't tend to value education and stability in education doesn't sit easily with frequent moves.

As much as we would like to change cultures in other countries we cannot, we cannot stop underage marriages anymore than we can change America's gun culture . The best hope for these young girls is education

I lived in an Eastern European country for 5 years. I saw too many PREGNANT Roma children. To this day I can stil remember the face of the first one I saw.

Yes Annie, I agree and know that has happened. I'm not d fending or minimising the practice whic I find abhorrent. The agencies dealing with this are under genuine pressure with increasing demands alongside shrinking resources. the 13 year old Roma bride is unlikely to support a prosecution for usi or to want to leave her husband.

Fine in Pakistan Annie. Sickening but true. The wives don't come over until 16.

But Iam, they can arrest the man, sex with a thirteen year old is against the law

Police and other agencies come across a number of situations where 13 year old girls are ' married '. It is common in Roma communities as well as Indian or Pakistani families. It's illegal and imo just 'wrong' but there aren't any quick legal or social fixes sadly

Jane10 , no one reported a 13 year married to an adult ?

I thought it was well balanced. Compassion was mixed with some eyebrow raising moments especially the 'uncle' who was quite clearly exploiting the frightened and injured young boy in his 'care'. It showed very clearly how an unscrupulous man with a child or disabled person can use them to their advantage.

I do hope the families who were featured find a safe and secure future.

Annieb no police involvement. Sons just off to Pakistan and arrive back here with these poor girls.
I was discussing arranged marriages with a friend who happens to be Muslim when I was in Bangladesh. She rejected the first chap she was offered but accepted the second. She told me her husband was really very nice. Rather a remote way of speaking of your spouse! She also told me in hushed tones that her parents had a 'love match'. Apparently it was a disaster.

Did anyone watch Panorama, The long road, with John Sweeney.

He started off on Kos and travelled with refugees right up to Austria. I was in tears a lot of the time.
How can we say they do not deserve a better life?

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06g01kf/panorama-europes-border-crisis-the-long-road

A British woman was jailed this week for running a pedophile ring,the men also jailed were white British. You are right Wilma , abuse of children is no way connected to colour or race or religion and more children are abused by family members than by any ring, always been so

One could of course say that celibacy enforced by some Christian denominations has also led to child abuse on a massive scale, here, in Ireland, all over the world, and particularly where Missionaries had huge power over the natives. No-one here blames 'Christianity' for that do they?

Without intending to defend in any way what happened in Rotherham, I just wanted to point out that the police stated the situation went far beyond religion and that the targeting of the vulnerable became organised crime which had spread to other locations.

In this country sexual exploitation is not driven by skin colour or religion.

I think I count as forced the situation DD's friend is in (friend is sixteen, btw, not eighteen and has already been introduced to a possible suitor in India) if the choice is either marry someone your parents choose or refuse and be rejected and disowned by your family. I hope it pans out better than that for DDfriend but I dislike the pressure she is already under and the fact that she feels she has to fight her parents to be able to live her life as she chooses with people she chooses in her own good time.

Again, and I am very aware I am repeating myself- this is not about 'Muslims' but about certain cultural groups who happen to be Muslims. Just like creationists or Mormons- who are very numerous in some parts of the Christian world, and not in others.

If you suspect that a minor is being forced into a marriage- DO something about it. None of my Muslim relatives have ever had to endure an enforced marriage, ever.

What happened in Rotheham was indeed appalling, but is NOT representative of Islam- but of the cultural/ethnic groups involved in those awful deeds. Plenty of English so called Christian men abuse children- in the UK, and most often in other countries like Thailand, etc. Is it OK for them to do so abroad where there is little protection for children?

Durhamjen. I now realise I was wrong to use the word 'heathen'
Would illiterate cowardly b.....d sit better with you or do I take it that you defend these people no matter what.

Forced marriage is now illegal in this country, although it was not when that article was written, janea.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/forced-marriage-the-warning-signs-10394995.html

If you know anyone who is being forced into marriage, tell the police. Otherwise it will happen. The police do not always do the right thing, but at least it's a start. There is also a Forced Marriage Unit.

www.gatestoneinstitute.org/4017/uk-muslim-underage-marriage

This article is about the conflicts between British Law and Sharia Law which permits girls to marry as soon as they reach puberty.
It must be so difficult for girls born into two opposing cultures.

So if I criticise the Christian crusades of the Middle Ages, I'm criticising a practice or What Happened, not Christians or even the good parts of Christianity.