Forced marriage a 'huge problem in Hounslow'

Sep 3 2008 By Jessica Thomas

Shaida Mehrban

A Brentford author has blown the lid on forced marriages in Hounslow in her new novel.

Shaida Mehrban, 48, has drawn from the real-life experiences of a friend who lives in Hounslow for her second book, Tears Behind the Veil, which details the heart wrenching true story of a young British Asian girl who goes on holiday to India with her mother only to be forced into an abusive marriage.

Shaida, of Great West Road, who moved to the UK from Pakistan in 1966, said: "Fortunately I have not suffered from cruelty like this, but I am from the same culture and so it's something I feel very strongly about."

Gayatri Shah, a counsellor from the Hounslow branch of The Pukaar Project, which supports Asian women and young girls who are victims of violence and abuse across six London boroughs. said: "It is a huge problem in Hounslow.

"Imagine you are taken away from your family, you have no money and no freedom, if you go home to your family you know there is a chance you may be killed, whereas if you stay with your husband you will continue to be abused. It is a very difficult situation for these women, this is why we are here to help."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Forced Marriage Unit deals with around 300 cases a year, with 30 per cent of these involving children as young as 10.

Shaida's new book is available from www.amazon.co.uk. To contact Pukaar call 020 8577 6059.