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Yvonne Ossei

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Forced Marriage, Belief in Witchcraft and FGM: The Taxpayers Will Be Picking Up The Tab

Posted: 24/09/2012 01:00

There are a number of 'culturally sensitive' human rights issues that the government hasn't got to grips with yet, and as a result people will continue to be murdered, raped and shipped to other countries, in the name of tradition and preserving family honour.

Whilst perusing the Home Office's Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) website, I ran across an animated documentary telling the story of an Asian girl called Sara, who received a first class in her studies and as a 'reward' was packed off to a foreign country and forced to marry her cousin, who was a thug and a bully. She kept calling her parents to help her but they claimed that there was nothing they could do, and in the words of Sara's husband, 'I own you now.' The FMU reported that in 2011 there were 1468 instances where they gave support or advice relating to a possible forced marriage.

Note that it is no longer referred to as arranged marriage, (because that affords it a degree of normality) it has now been given its appropriate title and the clue lies in its new name. The victims either don't want it or are incapable of consenting to it. Of the cases drawn to the FMU's attention, 56 included victims with learning disabilities. So why would any right thinking parent want to force their disabled child into a marriage where there would be potential for abuse? According to FMU reports, they want a carer because they feel unable to care for their child and marriage also 'normalises' the stigma that disabilities otherwise apparently carry. These women are often forced upon men that have immigration problems so that those men will receive legal stay after marriage. The men do not love them or care about them, they simply do not want to be deported. However they will rape the women because it is not consensual sex. How can you consent to something if you don't understand it?

There have been increasing incidents of children in London that have suffered horrific abuse at the hands of their guardians because of claims that they practice witchcraft. With the rapid development of African churches in the UK, some denominations believe that children can be witches and all it takes is for a member of the clergy to make the accusation. In most instances, anyone in the community can point their finger at an innocent child and make the damaging proclamation.

In 2001 the headless and limbless torso of a boy called Adam, or Ikpomwosa, was found washed up in the River Thames after he was sacrificed in a voodoo style ritual. A substance was found in his stomach which was thought to be a black magic concoction used to drug him before his murder. Kristy Bamu was an innocent 15-year-old boy visiting his sister Magalie Bamu in London from Paris in 2010. Magalie's boyfriend Eric Bikubi became infatuated with the idea that Kristy was a witch and began attacking him. Eric battered Kristy with an assortment of objects and then told him to jump out of a window to see if he could fly. Under this duress, Kristy finally 'confessed' to being a witch. Kristy was tortured to death and rather than protecting him, his sister goaded Eric on in the equal belief that he was a witch. An eight-year-old orphan known only as child B was brought to London by her aunt and was subsequently accused of being possessed by evil spirits. The girl was cut with a knife across her chest and had chilli-peppers rubbed into her eyes.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is another form of child abuse, and many people would like to compare it to male circumcision, but that I am here to inform you that there is no comparison. FGM is straightforward child abuse and a subjugation of the rights of women and girl-children. It is practiced in 28 African countries, Iraqi Kurdistan, Yemen, Oman and other places across the globe. You can read my detailed article on FGM here. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/yvonne-ossei/female-genital-mutilation_1_b_1822156.html

There are only a few examples provided above, but many of victims of these types of cultural abuses are British citizens. At the moment there are murmurs of these problems and there isn't enough decisive and preventative action. In 20 years' time, someone will have to answer questions as to why these incidents were allowed to occur. Today it is PPI and accident claims, in the future it will be forced marriage, FGM and witchcraft related child abuse. Victims will be taking the cases to court, cases will be won, and taxpayers will have to cough up the cost because nothing was done sooner.

Read more from Yvonne Ossei here http://musingsofyvonne.com

 

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There are a number of 'culturally sensitive' human rights issues that the government hasn't got to grips with yet, and as a result people will continue to be murdered, raped and shipped to other count...
There are a number of 'culturally sensitive' human rights issues that the government hasn't got to grips with yet, and as a result people will continue to be murdered, raped and shipped to other count...
 
 
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HilaryBurrage
Yes. Same Hilary Burrage as the HuffPost blogger
10:07 PM on 09/25/2012
Also, in support of Yvonne's piece here:
http://hilaryburrage.com/2012/04/29/fgm-in-britain-professional-culpability-public-responsibility-private-peril/
[Post entitled 'FGM In Britain: Professional Culpability, Public Responsibility, Private Peril']
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HilaryBurrage
Yes. Same Hilary Burrage as the HuffPost blogger
10:03 PM on 09/25/2012
There are a few things we can all do about this. If you are a UK citizen or resident, please sign the HMGovt e-petition to STOP #FGM in Britain:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35313

Activists managed to get 100,000 signatures in a weekend to stop badger culling, so SURELY we can get even more than that to STOP FGM?

Please pass the word wherever you can. Thank you.

More about this topic: http://paper.li/NoFGM1/1347915392?utm_source=subscription&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=paper_sub (Newsletter with updates - includes reference today to the HuffPost piece here, by Yvonne Ossei.)
03:02 PM on 09/25/2012
I obviously agree with every sentiment in this piece.. all that is except the following

"Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is another form of child abuse, and many people would like to compare it to male circumcision, but that I am here to inform you that there is no comparison. FGM is straightforward child abuse and a subjugation of the rights of women and girl-children."

How can it be fine for little boys to be mutilated at a young age when they are incapable of consent... but with little girls its just cruel?

Another example of how people are able to accept just about ANYTHING from 'mainstream' religions
karen1963yorks
My micro bio was empty. Good.
08:02 PM on 09/28/2012
Two of my postings described in anatomical detail what happens in female genital mutilation.
Both of the postings seem to be missing.
09:04 PM on 09/30/2012
Because with little girls, it's so they can't enjoy having sex when they become women. I've not heard of too many boys that can't enjoy sex when they grow up because they were circumcised.
11:33 PM on 09/24/2012
Every now and again I see a day time programme on Australia. So sensible, practical, no muppett spouting P C nonsense. Some thing is wrong they deal with it - stat! I dream of the old country becoming like the place where we sent the cons generations ago. Have they have moved forward and we have regressed. Interestingly, forced marriages are supported by all the family - men and women alike, and I suspect, they dont know what Page Three is !
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09:03 PM on 09/24/2012
please do not try to sanitise this TERRIBLE practice by a prefix FMG . State exactly what they are doing to children .its FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION .

ALL FAMILY MEMBERS INVOLVED SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY: TRIED : CONVICTED IF FOUND GUILTY; THEN DEPORTED THAT WOULD SEND A CLEAR WARNING TO ALL OF THOSE CONSIDERING MUTILATING THEIR CHILDRENS GENITALS.
IT MUST BE STOPPED NOT SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET.....

WHY DO THE POLICE AND SOCIAL SERVICES NOT PROSECUTE THE CRIMINALS

..ITS A CRIME.....
karen1963yorks
My micro bio was empty. Good.
05:01 PM on 09/25/2012
The police are scared stiff of being called racist.
07:54 PM on 09/24/2012
Just another practice allowed in this country because our government have not got the bottle to boot them out in case they are called racist.
06:15 PM on 09/24/2012
Abuse is Abuse is ILLEGAL in this country I don't give a DAMN what badge they try to put on it ! ANY person who abuses another whilst in ENGLAND should and MUST be prosecuted to the full extent of the ENGLISH LAW !
Is THAT clear enough ?
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Nitro24uk
05:01 PM on 09/24/2012
If you are against a Religion surly that is not racism?
karen1963yorks
My micro bio was empty. Good.
05:03 PM on 09/25/2012
Labour were trying to pass a law making it illegal to even tell a joke about any religion.
They said they were sure people of all religions had a sense of humour and the proposed law would not stifle free speech or be abused by any extremists.
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Nitro24uk
04:01 PM on 09/27/2012
FREE SPEECH! A thing of the past.
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stephen70
Please dont fan me as my next comment could leave
03:44 PM on 09/24/2012
As a white male schooled in the 70s and 80s at a CofE school, I was taught it is rude to question other peoples beliefs for fear of offense. I suspect the motives had more to do with protecting the silly superstitious beliefs of the adults around me. If there is one thing the faithful have it is unquestioning respect for anothers faith. The idea seems that a persons faith and culture has more rights than the children in their care, and I include male circumcision in that. As long as we remain a superstitious society these people will get away with just about anything, and command respect whilst their at it.
06:06 PM on 09/24/2012
You can include female circumcision.
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stephen70
Please dont fan me as my next comment could leave
06:41 PM on 09/24/2012
Sorry my fault, its my programing not to criticize cultural practices. I Must try to be more critical.
02:15 PM on 09/24/2012
How do you change a culture where all these horrendous practices are 'normal'? How do you change a mindset mired in abuse? If you raise an objection, you have accusations of racism screamed at you byt the PC brigade or by the abusers who hide behind the laws on racism. Only greater awareness of the depth of the problem and education about how widespread it is can hope to start the process whereby we can end this.
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minimemo
Can I be your friend...if they let me out...
04:53 PM on 09/24/2012
We can start by informing them that these 'cultural practices are forbidden in the UK but if you want to continue practicing them, you can go home - do it here it's prison and instant deportation on release. Now lets have a government with the balls to implement it!
01:53 PM on 09/24/2012
So what happens now? Politicians still going to 'ask' that misogynistic primitive men don't abuse/kill/rape girls because to say what really needs saying is 'racist'?
01:38 PM on 09/24/2012
You are wholly wrong to assert that there is no comparison with male genital mutilation (practised under the euphemism of circumcision). Offering a blood sacrifice of human flesh in thanks for the birth of a male infant is just as much child abuse as FGM.
09:19 PM on 09/24/2012
I agree both male and female genital Mutilation should be outlawed now!
10:07 PM on 09/24/2012
As someone who has been circumcised I just cant see it. I've never had a moments pain after the initial scarring went away (had it done late in life, and not for religious reasons). Do boys who have this done grow up with a similar amount of pain to the girls this is done to as a general rule? Its an honest question, I have no idea whether they do or don't. If you circumcise a boy in a hospital in a surgical procedure it will never be seen as abuse. I can say that in my own case, I've noticed the benefits. But if you were to perform the FGM operations as described in any context, hospital or not, it would be abuse. Just my own personal experience, I'm sure that with an operation so delicate it must go wrong sometimes.
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foundelk
A Shadow of My Self
02:25 AM on 09/24/2012
Bravo for speaking up.The silence on these subjects do to so called cultural sensitivity is disgusting.These practices are Barbaric and unacceptable,keep up the good work.
04:00 AM on 09/24/2012
It isn't cultural sensitivity that's made people silent on this subject, it's political correctness, it's ok for a black woman like Yvonne to bring this up, but if a white man did they'd soon be called racist/islamophobic etc.
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foundelk
A Shadow of My Self
04:08 AM on 09/24/2012
We need to all start speaking up if condemning abuse of women and children make me a racist bigot ,SO BE IT,I will wear that moniker proudly.