6 Apr 2011

BC government has acted quicker to protect animals than the abused children of Mormon fundamentalists in Bountiful



The Vancouver Sun - Canada April 6, 2011

Bountiful's girls deserve same decisive action accorded to sled dogs

For nearly two decades, B.C. has failed to help these victims; it's time the attorney-general stepped up

By Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun




A hundred sled dogs were killed when a Whistler business went bad. The B.C. government almost immediately set up an inquiry, and have backed its recommendation that stringent animal-cruelty legislation is needed.

Pity that there's never been that kind of fast and decisive action when it comes to vulnerable children in Bountiful.

After nearly two decades of dithering, out of fear that Canada's polygamy law is unconstitutional, B.C. initiated a reference case to determine the law's validity. It is now lumbering through the B.C. Supreme Court, en route, no doubt, to the Supreme Court of Canada in a few years from now.

Evidence in the case has revealed established patterns of trafficking, sexual exploitation and forced marriage -all of which supports allegations that have been made for decades against the fundamentalist Mormon community.

It also reveals a pattern of six decades of government "acquiescence," said Cheryl Milne of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children last week in her closing argument.

The government failed to protect the rights of Bountiful's children and continues to do so, she said, all in violation of international conventions on children's rights.

B.C. Attorney-General Barry Penner said in an interview that he was "shocked and disturbed" when he saw his ministry's list of 31 underage girls, along with their birth dates, wedding dates, the names and birthdates of their husbands, and the names of the fathers or brothers who allegedly trafficked them into the United States or brought them illegally to Canada.

But lawyers in his ministry and the Ministry of Children and Family Development knew about one of those girls -a 13-year-old -in 2008. That information was in the file that was reviewed by ministry lawyers as well as a special prosecutor. No criminal charges were laid.

There's other disturbing evidence. In 20 years, only 20 students have graduated with a high-school certificate from the two schools in Bountiful that receive nearly $2 million a year in government funding. Only 12 Bountiful residents have received adult equivalency certificates.

Witnesses for the attorney-general testified during the reference case that at 15 and 16 they were put to work for substandard wages, sometimes without proper safety equipment.

When Penner became aware of the list of underage brides last month, he asked RCMP to investigate.

But there's been no extra money allocated for the police investigation -just as there was no money allocated in 2004, when Geoff Plant was attorney-general and asked RCMP to investigate Bountiful. That time, it took nearly six months before RCMP had investigators in place.

Penner won't comment on the list. He doesn't want to prejudge the police investigation or speculate as to what lawyers in his ministry's criminaljustice branch might decide to do if RCMP recommend charges.

The attorney-general also didn't want to comment on a rather chilling paragraph in his ministry's written closing argument in the reference case: "Even with such compelling documentary evidence, there still remains a question of whether the crimes detailed could ever be prosecuted," it says. "Without the cooperation of the victim, it is virtually impossible to prove sexual contact as an element of exploitation or assault, unless the girl becomes pregnant while still a teen."

Penner said he didn't want to "usurp" the advice of his staff, but added that in his experience as a lawyer it's always better to have a witness.

But here's a thought: Subpoena some witnesses.

Even the FLDS witnesses who testified anonymously in the reference case provided evidence of the established patterns of abuse.

An American testified that she became the plural wife of a prominent Bountiful man in his 40s just a week after her 17th birthday. She lied to Canadian immigration officials at the border, handing them a letter from her parents saying that she was coming to visit relatives.

Six months later, she told the court, her husband crossed the border again with a 15-year-old American bride.

Another witness told of her own arranged marriage at 16 and explained why she agreed to her daughter's marriage at 15. The choice, the mother said in court, was to let her daughter marry a young man she cared for or risk having her assigned to an older man whom she might not even know.

The B.C. attorney-general has expressed the same shock and horror as his predecessors, over the decades, when faced with the allegations about Bountiful.

Penner, no doubt, is sincere. Some of his predecessors were as well.

But like the others, he will be judged by his action -or lack of it.



This article was found at:



RELATED ARTICLES ON THIS BLOG:



Stop Polygamy in Canada website has notes taken by observers in the courtroom as well as links to most of the affidavits and research the court is considering in this case.





Court appointed lawyer says Canadian polygamy law criminalizes harmless behaviour, violates religious freedom of adults



Research from over 170 countries shows polygamy causes extreme violations of women and children's rights


Author who escaped abuse in US polygamy cult explains why Canadian constitutional case is so important in both countries


Evidence in Canadian polygamy case shows Mormon leader trafficked his daughters and other child brides to US


Religious practice not above the law, polygamy consumes its young says Attorney General of BC in closing argument


Summary of positions in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy as court begins hearing final oral arguments


Lawyer says extraordinary evidence in Canadian case shows polygamous society consumes children, harms women


A review of the Canadian constitutional case on polygamy after completion of testimonies


Canadian Muslim polygamists closely watching landmark constitutional case on Canadian polygamy law


Economics professor considers financial aspects of polygamy that create inequality


Legal expert tells Canadian court polygamy prohibitions and monogamy tradition pre-date Christianity


B.C. government expert in polygamy case sets out long list of social harms, societies that abandon polygamy do better


Polygamy expert tells court in constitutional case that it reduces women's freedom and equality and leads to forced marriage


Polygyny and Canada’s Obligations under International Human Rights Law (pdf)


Research paper submitted to B.C. court in constitutional case documents harms associated with polygamy


Bountiful evidence that polygamy harms women and children - constitutional case likely to reach Canadian Supreme Court


Some religious practices, such as polygamy, are inherently harmful and should not be tolerated in modern society 


Women's adovcates: polygamy is an “oppressive institution” that abuses and enslaves women and children


Prosecuting Polygamy in El Dorado by Marci Hamilton


Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearings on Polygamy Crimes: What Needs to Be Done at the Federal Level to Protect Children from Abuse and Neglect


Senate hearing: "Crimes Associated with Polygamy: The Need for a Coordinated State and Federal Response."


Texas Will Attempt to Show That Polygamist Culture Itself Harms Children


Israeli politicians and women's advocates call for immediate change to polygamy law to protect rights of women and children


New study on polygamy in Malaysia finds evidence of harm to everyone involved


Indonesian Women's Association divided on whether polygamy, which is legal in Indonesia, is harmful to women and children



Religious practice not above the law, polygamy consumes its young says Attorney General of BC in closing argument




Summary of positions in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy as court begins hearing final oral arguments




Lawyer fighting Canadian polygamy law says it violates religious freedom, need new law against forced marriage



BC Civil Liberties Association lawyer defends adult human rights in polygamy case, no mention of children's rights



BC Civil Liberties Association tells Canadian court law against polygamy violates personal freedoms, should be scrapped













BC government failed to act on evidence of child bride trafficking after 2008 Texas raid on polygamists







Final arguments in Canadian constitutional hearing on polygamy will be broadcast on TV and Web



Canadian polygamy case hears evidence on high rates of teen pregnancies in fundamentalist Mormon community


For Mormon polygamists in Canadian case religious freedom means enslaving women, sexualizing girls, exploiting boys

Two more plural wives testify in Canadian polygamy case, see no problem with forced marriage or trafficking child brides

Testimony of first FLDS witness in Canadian polygamy case reveals women in denial that their children are being abused

First anonymous FLDS witness in Canadian polygamy case paints cosy picture of plural marriage, seems oblivious to abuses

Affidavit in Canadian polygamy case reveals shocking statistics on child trafficking, child brides and teen mothers in Bountiful

Economics professor considers financial aspects of polygamy that create inequality

Two Mormon fundamentalist women from Utah tell Canadian court positive accounts of polygamy, no hint of abuse

Brother of FLDS bishop describes intellectual abuse, child labour, spiritual abuse and loveless religion in Canadian polygamy case

No freedom from religion for women and children in Mormon polygamist towns where men claim religious freedom to abuse

Mormon polygamist survivor tells court babies smothered to keep quiet, emotional and spiritual abuse worse than sex abuse

Video testimony by Mormon fundamentalist in Canadian court says polygamy provides happy life and harms no one

Survivor tells Canadian court extreme abuses including water torture of babies common in Mormon polygamist communities

FLDS bishop of Bountiful will not testify in Canadian polygamy case so his affidavit will not be read into record

Legal expert tells Canadian court polygamy prohibitions and monogamy tradition pre-date Christianity

The issue of women's rights in the Canadian constitutional review of the polygamy law




Before holiday break in constitutional case judge hears conflicting expert testimony on harms associated with polygamy

Expert in polygamy case says society should assume all members of sects have free choice, but what about children?

B.C. government expert in polygamy case sets out long list of social harms, societies that abandon polygamy do better

Court views video affidavits from Mormon fundamentalist survivors detailing pedophilia, incest, child trafficking and forced marriage

Polygamy expert tells court in constitutional case that it reduces women's freedom and equality and leads to forced marriage

Affidavits from survivors and psychologist's testimony in constitutional case show abusive nature of polygamous lifestyle

Expert witness in constitutional case on polygamy claims Bountiful women freely choose their own religious oppression

Judge allows controversial expert witness to testify in Canadian polygamy case, no decision yet on publication of video affidavits

Pro-polygamy intervenor groups make opening statements as first week of Canadian constitutional case ends

FLDS lawyer in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy claims members freely consent to plural marriage, abuse survivors disagree

Lawyer appointed to argue for striking down Canada's anti-polygamy law in constitutional case makes opening arguments

Canadian constitutional case on polygamy begins with BC government's opening statement

Unique Canadian constitutional case on polygamy set to begin November 22, 2010

Timeline of events leading up to Canadian constitutional case on polygamy which is set to begin

Survivor of abuse by Mormon polygamists documents accounts of sex crimes in the FLDS and other fundamentalist groups

Mormon fundamentalist leader asks court to exclude evidence against him in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy

Fundamentalist Mormon spokeswoman says polygamy doesn't hurt anyone

Mormon fundamentalist claims of religious persecution in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy not supported by the facts

Polygamist leader says BC attorney general guilty of religious persecution

Polygamist leader calls charges religious persecution

More persecution than prosecution

Second Mormon polygamist found guilty of child sex assault, jury doesn't buy defense claim of religious persecution

Claims of persecution ridiculous in societies where Christians have special privileges to indoctrinate children

More pro-polygamy affidavits by Mormon fundamentalists filed in Canadian constitutional case set to begin in November

Judge will allow anonymous testimony from Mormon polygamists in Canadian constitutional case on polygamy

Mormon polygamists seek immunity from future prosecution before giving evidence in Canadian constitutional case

Canadian constitutional case on polygamy triggered by Mormon fundamentalists, but will also examine Muslim communities

Utah law professor uses Mormon polygamists as example of how religious extremism leads to deliberate child abuse

Polygyny and Canada’s Obligations under International Human Rights Law (pdf)

Research paper submitted to B.C. court in constitutional case documents harms associated with polygamy

Man from Bountiful says girls in Mormon polygamist communities "treated like poison snakes", taught to obey men and have many children

Bountiful evidence that polygamy harms women and children - constitutional case likely to reach Canadian Supreme Court

Review of the positions 12 intervener groups are expected to take in upcoming Canadian constitutional case on polygamy

Some religious practices, such as polygamy, are inherently harmful and should not be tolerated in modern society 

Women's adovcates: polygamy is an “oppressive institution” that abuses and enslaves women and children

Prosecuting Polygamy in El Dorado by Marci Hamilton

Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearings on Polygamy Crimes: What Needs to Be Done at the Federal Level to Protect Children from Abuse and Neglect

Senate hearing: "Crimes Associated with Polygamy: The Need for a Coordinated State and Federal Response."

Texas Will Attempt to Show That Polygamist Culture Itself Harms Children

FLDS defendants complain their religious freedom violated, while denying religious freedom to their children

Children in Bountiful have religious rights too, but are denied them by parents claiming religious freedom 

Some Canadian children are protected from religion-related abuse, while others are not

Polygamy is not freedom


No comments:

Post a Comment