Ministers ‘ignoring’ plight of young British women who are raped after being forced to marry abroad

DOZENS of young British women are raped after being forced into marriage abroad — while ministers “turn a blind eye”, a probe has revealed.

Their husbands hope to secure a UK visa by having a British wife, and believe pregnancy will further increase their chances of being allowed to stay here.

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Officials handled 88 cases last year of women trying to block vi­­sas for men they wed in places like Bangladesh and Pakistan.

But in 42 cases visas were still issued, enraging charities supporting victims of forced marriage.

Campaigners say officials fear being accused of racism if they step in. The Times probe found immigration lawyers use legal loopholes to help husbands get visas behind their wives’ backs.

Bradford solicitor Asama Javed told an undercover reporter how to apply for a visa for his son-in-law without his daughter’s knowledge. She also asked if his other daughter, aged 15, was ready for marriage.

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When he said no, she said: “If she is mentally or physically ready, there is no harm in it.”

Jasvinder Sanghera, whose Karma Nirvana charity supports victims of forced marriage, said: “Even when officials know it’s a forced marriage, they see tradition, culture or religion and they’re reticent to deal with it. They’re turning a blind eye.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “The UK is a world leader in tackling forced marriage.”