Forced marriage isn't something which affects women alone. I have seen men suffer similar circumstances, but through my observations it appears to be perceived differently – men, generally, seem more accepting of it.

Maybe it's because they don't have to compromise their freedom in the same way a woman does, or is it because they see it as a rescuing mission which strokes the ego?

I have frequently spoken to men who have said they were taken to Pakistan not knowing they were getting married, but when I ask them how they feel about it now there is generally a similar response.

It seems that the potential wife is introduced to them as someone from a disadvantaged background, with good girl habits, so he would not only be helping her but also her whole family by going ahead with the marriage ceremony.

This is fine but it makes me think about what a contrast there is. While these men are rescuing women from Pakistan, the women over here are left needing to be rescued.

This is not a rant about men, but it is undeniable that men in the Asian culture and community play an important part, especially as many of the vital organisations considered to be the voice of the community are run by men.

So it is important to look at how we work as a community.

As the Cambridgeshire police set up a hotline for people who are suffering any type of violence in the name of honour, I can't help ponder the thought of whether we, the Asain community, could do more?

Issues around forced marriages have been in the media for years now, and have been talked about by many, but least of all by the Asain community.

Is this because secretly, the majority still believe such marriages are the right way of resolving culture conflicts, or because there is feeling of resentment against women who have started to speak up?

This is something we should all be officially protesting against and by doing so we will also be practising one of the fundamental points of Sharia Law.

The worst thing however, is that you can divorce a person you are forced to marry but as a parent how can you mend the broken relationship with your child?