THE campaign against domestic violence is being stepped up at East Lancashire mosques.

Blackburn with Darwen community organisation One Voice has joined forced with charities and masjids to highlight the issues of domestic abuse, honour based violence and forced marriage to the local black, minority and ethnic population.

A recent event at the Darassalam Education Centre on Whalley New Road in Blackburn, saw the Imam talking about how such behaviour is completely unacceptable in the Islamic faith.

Now One Voice through its Baiter Sehat campaign, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and the Humraaz Refuge is organising a free ‘Respect and Protect’ event on Sunday February 16 at Pleckgate High School. Supported by Lancashire Council of Mosques, it will include speeches by Islamic scholars, victims and workers in the field.

Zaheer Mahmud, of One Voice, said: “The men of the community, alongside the religious teachers need to address the issue of domestic abuse, honour based violence and forced marriage.”