Syal supports outlawing of forced unions

LONDON, March 16 (UPI) -- "The Kumars at No. 42" star Meera Syal says she supports a British proposal to criminalize forced marriages.

However, Syal said, people must understand there is a "vast" difference between forced marriages and arranged marriages, Sky News reported.

The British government is launching a series of public service announcements letting people know they should ask for help if they are being forced into marriages against their wills.

"This is an extremely important campaign," Syal said. "For young people, they need to know that there is help out there and that it is OK to ask for help.

"And we want the older generations to know that we respect their culture, tradition and we understand that arranged marriages have a place in society," she said. "But there is a vast difference between an arranged and a forced marriage consent."

A government decision is expected within weeks on whether to make forced marriages a criminal offense.