lost in translation

In an interesting follow-on from the Pakistani domestic abuse victim I interviewed earlier this month, the BBC Asian Network aired Lost in Translation, a documentary about the abuse of some women brought from the sub-continent to marry British-born men.
Journalist Sunny Hundal made a powerful case about the need for some within the Asian community to stop sweeping the issue under the carpet, and for more protection to be given to such women.
He made the point that foreign women who escape abusive situations currently don't have any recourse to public funds (ie benefits and - crucially - refuge places) if they haven't applied for or been awarded residency in the UK.
One lawyer was scathing about the treatment of foreign-born Asian brides by some British men, and the kind of excuses she has heard when cases come to court ("I was keeping her in line", "this is the way in our culture" etc). But others with differing viewpoints were also interviewed.
Clearly, the kind of problems experienced by the woman I spoke to, and those on Lost in Translation, are the unpleasant minority and no doubt many such marriages work well. But the debate about cultural clash, language difficulties and people's differing expectations of relationships is an interesting one.
Yes, domestic abuse happens in every community in Britain, and is reprehensible in all. But extra support is obviously needed for those who experience it while living in foreign country, with few language skills, no friends or family and no idea how to get out. The debate continues here.