Authorities 'intervened over Afghan forced marriage fears'

Updated

Police and social workers intervened after discovering that a nine-year-old girl could be in danger of being taken to Afghanistan to marry an 18-year-old cousin, a family court judge has been told.

The girl's mother had told social services staff that her father was planning the trip, Mr Justice MacDonald heard.

Another judge had made both parents the subject of forced marriage protection orders after child protection specialists began legal moves.

Orders barred the couple from "permitting" the girl to "undergo marriage".

Detail of the case has emerged in a ruling by Mr Justice MacDonald following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.

The girl had been temporarily taken into local authority care in the wake of her mother's allegation.

Mr Justice MacDonald had analysed the latest stage of proceedings launched by social services bosses.

The judge said the girl could not be identified, but said the local authority involved was the London Borough of Camden.

He said the family was of Afghan heritage.

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