Teen prevented from flying overseas 'for arranged marriage'
Authorities have prevented a 14-year-old girl from leaving Australia amid suspicions she was being taken overseas for an arranged marriage.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers spoke to the girl and an adult male at Sydney International Airport as they prepared to board a flight on Friday, the AFP said.
The ABC understands the two were related and authorities suspected her family was arranging a marriage with an older man.
Authorities have not confirmed reports the man and girl were preparing to fly to Lebanon.
In a statement, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said forced marriages were "an assault on Australia's values".
"Where children are involved it is an abomination," he said.
New South Wales Minister for Women Pru Goward said the action should send a strong message to families planning on forcing girls into underage marriages.
"Whether the arrangement in their mind is religious or cultural, the law of Australia says it's illegal and they need to accept and abide by that," Ms Goward said.
"We consider that girls in Australia have a right to a childhood free from abuse and from marriage being imposed on them and we will catch them, we will find them, as we caught this family."
The AFP said it was "making further inquiries" and it was not appropriate to comment further.
