Clerics from four British mosques, including one in West Yorkshire, are under investigation after being caught on camera agreeing to conduct secret marriage ceremonies involving girls as young as 14. They include a senior Muslim leader who has worked with West Yorkshire Police as an advisor on community cohesion.An ITV investigation has been told by experts that children as young as 10 are being forced into marriage in the UK. Undercover reporters from the network posed as the mother and brother of a 14-year-old girl who they wished to marry to an older man. The pair approached 56 mosques across the UK and 18 said they would be willing to perform a nikah, or Islamic marriage.
Shams-Ul Huda Khan Misbahi, who preaches at a mosque in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, agreed to marry the 14-year-old, despite having previously publicy denounced forced marriages. The mosque said it has launched a 'thorough investigation" and that it does not endorse forced or underage marriage.