How Pakistan’s rape culture led to the UK grooming gangs

Pakistani-origin men are up to four times more likely to be reported to the police for child sex grooming offences than the general population in England and Wales, the first national police scheme data appeared to suggest last week. 

The perpetrators of three of the most gruesome child abuse scandals in modern British history, in Rochdale, Rotherham, and Telford, were overwhelmingly of Pakistani origin. While sexual abuse takes place across demographics, not enough attention has been paid to the way these grooming gangs have been inspired by the anti-women customs of Pakistan. 

The majority of British-Pakistanis have their origins in Mirpur, a city in northern Pakistan. But while Mirpur is a part of Kashmir, its inhabitants predominantly share their customs, language, and culture with Punjabis, Pakistan’s majority ethnic group. 

Certain attitudes dominate Pakistan. There is a gory mix in the country of Islamic supremacism, primitive tribalism and violent misogyny, which encourages some men to prey on girls.