OXFORD victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence are being urged to seek help.

A review into the problem commissioned by Oxford City Council indicated there were at least 78 cases in the city in the past year.

The authority has vowed to tackle the problem, planning to work with other interested parties to form a steering group on how to address the issue.

A Muslim Women’s Forum is also being planned, along with leaflets in a variety of languages informing people of their basic human rights.

Five years ago, Arash Ghorbani-Zarin, 19, was stabbed to death by brothers Mohammed Mujibar Rahman and Mamnoor Rahman in Rose Hill after being “counselled” to kill by their father, Chomir Ali.

Mr Ali believed his daughter, Manna Begum, who was pregnant by Mr Ghorbani Zarin, had brought shame on the family. An arranged marriage was planned for her.

Liz Jones, domestic and sexual abuse coordinator for the council, said: “It is difficult to know how prevalent it is because it is not always obvious unless there is serious physical or sexual violence, but it is still an important issue because a number of those involved are children.”

In a report considered by the council’s executive board last week, Dr Nazia Khanum, who interviewed 52 individuals from statutory and voluntary agencies as part of her research, described it as a “massively under-reported and hidden phenomenon”.

She said: “The council should make an appeal to the community to join hands with them to purge society of this dishonourable and harmful domestic bullying.”

While Ms Jones supported the idea of setting up a Muslim Women’s Forum, she said it was important to recognise it was not a problem restricted to the Muslim community, and the council needed to reach out to all people who could be vulnerable.

She added: “It impacts on numerous communities. Older children are being forced into marriage, taken away or kept at home because of what is perceived as ‘too-Western’ behaviour.

“The more we talk about it, the more we start seeing it and the more people come forward.”

She said other groups affected included the travelling community, those from Eastern European, Hindu and Sikh communities, families from Africa and even some Irish people.

Ms Jones said: “People should come forward and get the support they need. Often, they are too frightened.”

The next stage is for the steering group to decide what action to take.

Rahman, Rahman and Ali were found guilty of murder and jailed for a total of 50 years in December 2005.