October 29, 2007	Monday	Shawwal 16, 1428

BERLIN, Oct 28: Germany is considering introducing new rules against forced marriages, a sensitive subject in Germany which is home to western Europe’s second biggest Muslim population after France.

Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue in a speech to a women’s conference on Saturday.“I think the demand to make forced marriage an offence is absolutely right,” she said.

Under existing rules, forced marriages themselves are not a crime although individuals can be found guilty of coercion if a victim is found to be in a forced partnership.

Some federal states have already made proposals to outlaw the practice to Germany’s upper house of parliament but little has come of them so far, said a government spokesman.—Reuters