No fond kiss goodbye to forced marriage

A CAMPAIGN has been launched to raise awareness of forced marriage laws recently introduced in Scotland.

In November last year it became a criminal offence to make a woman marry against her will.

The campaign aims to encourage greater use and understanding of the new laws, which give greater protection to the victims of forced marriage in Scotland.

Scottish courts now have the power to issue Forced Marriage Protection Orders, which offer increased protection for both men and women.

The legislation, passed by the Scottish Parliament, is the first in the UK to make it a criminal offence to breach an order, leading to a two-year prison sentence, a fine, or both.

The campaign launch was highlighted by actors Atta Yaqub and Shabana Bakhsh, stars of the 2004 Ken Loach film Ae Fond Kiss.