Bold truth: forced marriage shatters lives, leaving survivors scarred, isolated, and traumatized. But the full story—and the stakes behind it—often remain unseen. Here’s a clearer, expanded rewrite of the original account, preserving all key details while making the narrative more accessible for readers new to the topic.
Sara’s ordeal began after she was coerced into a marriage with a man she did not choose. She was just 21 years old when the relationship turned violent. Isolated and powerless, she endured harm that intensified once she moved to the United Kingdom and began living with her husband’s parents in 2022. The life her family had promised—one of happiness and belonging—quickly dissolved into fear and control.
A forced marriage is defined as a marriage in which one or both parties do not consent and are subjected to pressure or abuse to compel agreement. In the UK, it became illegal in 2014 under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to seven years. In 2023, Crown Prosecution Service figures showed 30 prosecutions for forced marriage, resulting in 16 convictions. Yet charities warn that these numbers underestimate the true scale of the problem.
Karma Nirvana, a Derby-based charity supporting survivors, reported receiving 624 helpline calls last year—almost three times the 229 calls recorded by the Home Office’s Forced Marriage Unit. This gap highlights the gap between official statistics and lived experiences.
To protect Sara’s identity, her real name and the specific location where she was brought to the UK are withheld. This was her first visit to England, with no language skills or familiarity with the country. Family and friends had reassured her that life in England would be better, and for a brief period the marriage appeared to improve.
Gradually, however, freedoms were stripped away. She was told not to go out, not to work, and to stay at home at all times. She recalls being warned that leaving the home could lead to rape or murder by British people—a threat she says was explicit: stay indoors, day or night, or face violence.
Her husband’s control intensified as Sara was made to perform household chores and was forbidden from leaving the house. The mother-in-law labeled Sara as a “maid” or “servant,” further eroding her sense of dignity and autonomy. The situation worsened when her husband became physically violent.
The abuse included throwing objects, pushing Sara, and occasional kicking. Matters deteriorated further when the couple’s WiFi was cut off, severing contact with family and friends. When Sara finally confronted her husband about the lack of connectivity, his anger erupted. He threw the TV remote and keys at her, striking her face, and then grabbed her neck, pushing her against a wall and hitting her head several times. She recalls feeling as though she was suffocating and feared she might die.
Watching from the doorway, the mother-in-law offered a cruel, fatalistic commentary, suggesting Sara should stay quiet. That night, her husband positioned himself by the door to prevent her escape. The impact of the attack left Sara with a swollen face and a lasting sense of fear.
In the aftermath, Sara called the police after a long night of crying and worrying about her safety. Officers arrived within minutes, and Sara was taken to a shelter in Leeds in December 2022. Her husband was arrested, but no charges were pursued at that time, partly due to concerns about her safety back in Pakistan. By July of the following year, Sara had initiated divorce proceedings.
Returning to Pakistan was not a viable option for Sara. She faced stigma against divorced women and the fear that she could be forced into another marriage by relatives. She chose to rebuild in the UK instead, obtaining settled status, learning English, and starting anew in Derbyshire.
Sara now advocates against forced marriage, emphasizing its devastating impact on both girls and boys: “By having a forced marriage, you are ruining the life of another person. It’s not just a girl’s life that’s destroyed; boys’ lives are affected too. We should think about it, understand it.”
Her experience is representative of a larger, largely uncounted population of forced marriage survivors living in the UK. There is currently no reliable national figure capturing the full scope. In response, the Home Office plans to pilot a prevalence study to determine how widespread forced marriage is and to inform policy decisions. This initiative involves collaboration with researchers from the University of Nottingham and the University of Birmingham to develop a data tool for measuring the phenomenon.
Dr. Helen McCabe, associate professor of political theory at the University of Nottingham, notes that this would be England and Wales’ first prevalence study of forced marriage. The aim is to establish baseline data that would help authorities assess whether police practices or prosecutorial methods require adjustment and to allocate resources effectively. The Home Office intends to expand the project to include measurements for related survivor experiences such as female genital mutilation.
The study’s feasibility work is expected to conclude by March, providing the government with a clearer picture of the scale of forced marriage and the resources needed to combat it.
In a statement, Jess Phillips, the minister responsible for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, affirmed the government’s commitment to reform. She described ongoing legal updates and measures aimed at addressing this pernicious form of abuse and urged frontline staff to treat such crimes with the seriousness they deserve. Her closing message to perpetrators: justice will be pursued.
Controversy and debate naturally accompany topics like forced marriage. Some readers may question the effectiveness of current laws, the accuracy of reported figures, or the balance between cultural sensitivity and safeguarding. What steps should policymakers prioritize to prevent forced marriages, improve reporting, and support survivors? Share thoughts in the comments about whether legal reform, community education, or enhanced service provision would make the most meaningful impact—and why.
