FORCED ‘WIVES’ MUST PAY FOR OWN RESCUES

Women handed £740 flight bill

YOUNG women sent abroad for forced marriages are being made to pay back the cost of their flights home.

The Foreign Office demands that victims refund their rescuers – even if they are homeless and penniless.

The department helped to bring home 27 victims of forced marriage in 2017 and 55 in 2016. Any of the young women who are over 18 have to sign loan agreements with officials before they board their flights to safety.

If the youngsters cannot pay back the “loan” within six months, the Government starts charging interest – adding a 10% charge to their bill. Last year four young British women were rescued from a “correctional school” in Somalia where they were chained to the walls and tortured every day.

After freeing them, officials handed them each a bill for £740.

Some of the women were forced to claim benefits or use their university loans.

A spokesman from the Foreign Office said: “Given these payments are from public funds, we have an obligation to recover the money.

“The [Government’s] forced marriage unit provides funding for safe houses and non-governmental organisations to ensure victims of forced marriage can get to a place of safety as soon as possible.”

WHAT an insult.

Young women sent abroad for forced marriages are being charged by the Foreign Office to be rescued.

In some cases the victims are having to pay up to £740 to come home.

That’s outrageous.

The Government should protect these women – not profit from their awful plight.

Many have suffered terrible abuse after being cruelly sent away by their families.

They are then expected to stump up the money for their flight home, as well as for basic food and shelter.

As a result, some have been left destitute once back in Britain. This is not right.

Ministers need a dose of morality.

It’s time to put this right.