European Muslim Network

Une campagne européenne initiée et lancée par SPIOR et la municipalité de Rotterdam, en collaboration avec le professeur Tariq Ramadan

Les mariages forcés semblent appartenir au passé, pourtant, ils restent une réalité dans les sociétés européennes. Les jeunes, garçons et filles, sont contraints d’épouser une personne que les parents ou la famille ont choisi à leur place, sans leur laisser le choix et la possibilité de refuser.
Ce phénomène se produit dans les différents groupes au-delà des différences ethniques, culturelles et religieuses, mais aussi parmi les musulmans. En ce qui les concerne, les musulmans comme les non musulmans, pensent à tort que cette pratique relève de l’islam. Pourtant, l’islam interdit les mariages forcés. Dans la tradition musulmane, un mariage n’est valide que lorsque les deux partis consentent librement.

En 2004, SPIOR (l’organisme qui chapeaute les associations musulmanes à Rotterdam aux Pays Bas) lançait un projet pour lutter contre les mariages forcés, à cause de nombreuses jeunes filles qui fuyaient le domicile familial de peur d’être mariées de force. L’objectif de ce projet était de prévenir les mariages forcés en faisant un travail de sensibilisation sur la question, en réformant les mentalités et en promouvant une meilleure communication entre les parents et les enfants. Des rencontres ont donc été organisées avec des centaines de jeunes filles et garçons, parents mais aussi avec des imams et des savants. Un des axes de travail les plus important de ce projet était de sensibiliser le public sur la question des mariages forcés dans une perspective islamique et dans le choix du partenaire en général.
Le fait que l’Islam interdit la pratique des mariages forcés s’est avéré être une surprise pour la plupart des personnes impliquées dans le projet. Les résultats de ce projet ont été publiés dans un petit livre qui portait le même titre « Main dans la main contre les mariages forcés ». Ce document contient des informations sur l’origine culturelle des mariages forcés et sur la relation entre le mariage et le concept de « l’honneur ». La plaquette fournit également un plan d’action ainsi que des conseils pour déceler et prévenir cette pratique.

Ce problème n’est pas propre à Rotterdam ou aux Pays bas, raison pour laquelle, SPIOR et la municipalité de Rotterdam en collaboration avec le professeur Tariq Ramadan (Professeur invité en charge de la chaire « Identité et Citoyenneté » à l’université d’Erasmus à Rotterdam et président du think tank European Muslim Network) ont lancé une campagne européenne contre les mariages forcés. À cet effet, la brochure susmentionnée sera traduite en anglais, français, allemand, italien, espagnol, turc et arabe et sera distribuée au Royaume-Uni, en Belgique, en France, en Allemagne, en Italie et en Espagne. Bien entendu, SPIOR ne peut s’engager seul dans cette action, aussi, nous collaborerons avec les organisations musulmanes et les autorités locales des pays cités. Elles inscriront la problématique des mariages forcés à l’ordre du jour dans leur propre communauté et de la façon dont elles le souhaitent. Nous espérons que les expériences menées par SPIOR et décrites dans la plaquette seront une source d’inspiration pour nos partenaires et le public européen en général.

La campagne débutera avec des journées de lancement dans plusieurs capitales :

15 Mai – Rotterdam
16 Mai – Bruxelles
19 Mai – Londres
21 Mai – Berlin
22 Mai – Madrid
23 Mai – Paris
26 Mai – Rome

Pour de plus amples informations, merci de prendre contact avec la coordinatrice du projet : Mme Marianne Vorthoren (SPIOR) : +31 (0)10 – 466 69 89 Ou : m.vorthoren@spior.nl

A European campaign and an initiative launched by SPIOR and the Rotterdam Municipality, in co-operation with Professor Tariq Ramadan

Forced marriages may seem to belong to the past, but actually still are a reality in European societies. Young people, both girls and boys, are being forced to marry someone their parents or family have chosen for them and are not being given the opportunity to say ‘no’. It happens amongst groups of different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, also amongst Muslims. As far as Muslims are concerned, it is often thought – by Muslims and non-Muslims alike – that forced marriages are a part of Islam. However, Islam actually forbids forced marriages. A marriage is only valid according to Islam when both man and woman enter it of their own, free will.

For SPIOR, the Muslim umbrella organisation in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the fact that Muslim girls were running away from home out of fear of being forced to marry, was the reason to start a project against forced marriages in 2004. The goal was the prevention of forced marriages by raising awareness about the issue, changing attitudes and promoting better communication between Muslim parents and children. To this end, meetings were organised with hundreds of young women, men and parents, also involving imams and scholars. Educating people about the Islamic view on forced marriages and choice of a partner in general was an important part of the project. The fact that Islam actually forbids forced marriages turned out to be an eye-opening message for many of the people involved.

The results of the project were published in a booklet with the same title: ‘Joining hands against forced marriages’. The booklet further contains information about the cultural background of forced marriages, about the Islamic view on marriage and forced marriages and about the relationship between marriage and the concept of ‘honour’. Also, the booklet provides a step by step plan for detection of force, taking actions and some advice for setting up preventative projects.

This issue is not unique for Rotterdam, or the Netherlands. That is why now SPIOR and the Rotterdam Municipality, in cooperation with Professor Tariq Ramadan (visiting professor on ‘Citizenship and Identity’ at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam), have started a European campaign against forced marriages. To this end, the aforementioned booklet will be translated into English, French, German, Italian and Spanish and distributed in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Of course, SPIOR can not do this alone. For this purpose, we will team up with Muslim organisations and (local) authorities in these countries, who will put the issue of forced marriages on the agenda in their own communities and in their own way. SPIOR’s experiences, as described in the booklet, will hopefully serve as means of inspiration for others.

The campaign will start with launch meetings in several capitals:
15 May – Rotterdam
16 May – Brussels
19 May – London
21 May – Berlin
22 May – Madrid
23 May – Paris
26 May – Rome

For more information, please contact Marianne Vorthoren at SPIOR:
+31 (0)10 – 466 69 89
or m.vorthoren@spior.nl

Forced marriages may seem to belong to the past, but actually still are a reality in European societies. Young people, both girls and boys, are being forced to marry someone their parents or family have chosen for them and are not being given the opportunity to say ‘no’. It happens amongst groups of different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, also amongst Muslims. As far as Muslims are concerned, it is often thought - by Muslims and non-Muslims alike - that forced marriages are a part of Islam. However, Islam actually forbids forced marriages. A marriage is only valid according to Islam when both man and woman enter it of their own, free will.

Forced marriages may seem to belong to the past, but actually still are a reality in European societies. Young people, both girls and boys, are being forced to marry someone their parents or family have chosen for them and are not being given the opportunity to say ‘no’. It happens amongst groups of different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, also amongst Muslims. As far as Muslims are concerned, it is often thought – by Muslims and non-Muslims alike – that forced marriages are a part of Islam. However, Islam actually forbids forced marriages. A marriage is only valid according to Islam when both man and woman enter it of their own, free will.
For SPIOR, the Muslim umbrella organisation in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the fact that Muslim girls were running away from home out of fear of being forced to marry, was the reason to start a project against forced marriages in 2004. The goal was the prevention of forced marriages by raising awareness about the issue, changing attitudes and promoting better communication between Muslim parents and children. To this end, meetings were organised with hundreds of young women, men and parents, also involving imams and scholars. Educating people about the Islamic view on forced marriages and choice of a partner in general was an important part of the project. The fact that Islam actually forbids forced marriages turned out to be an eye-opening message for many of the people involved.
The results of the project were published in a booklet with the same title: ‘Joining hands against forced marriages’. The booklet further contains information about the cultural background of forced marriages, about the Islamic view on marriage and forced marriages and about the relationship between marriage and the concept of ‘honour’. Also, the booklet provides a step by step plan for detection of force, taking actions and some advice for setting up preventative projects.
This issue is not unique for Rotterdam, or the Netherlands. That is why now SPIOR and the Rotterdam Municipality, in cooperation with Professor Tariq Ramadan (visiting professor on ‘Citizenship and Identity’ at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam), have started a European campaign against forced marriages. To this end, the aforementioned booklet will be translated into English, French, German, Italian and Spanish and distributed in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Of course, SPIOR can not do this alone. For this purpose, we will team up with Muslim organisations and (local) authorities in these countries, who will put the issue of forced marriages on the agenda in their own communities and in their own way. SPIOR’s experiences, as described in the booklet, will ahopefully serve as means of inspiration for others.
The campaign will start with launch meetings in several capitals:
15 May – Rotterdam
16 May – Brussels
19 May – London
21 May – Berlin
22 May – Madrid
23 May – Paris
26 May – Rome
For more information, please contact Marianne Vorthoren at SPIOR:
+31 (0)10 – 466 69 89
or m.vorthoren@spior.nl