Many Muslims believe the government is using its campaign against forced marriages as an excuse to tighten up immigration rules, a study has found.

According to the research - commissioned by the Foreign Office - Muslims feel the government is interfering in long-established cultural beliefs.

Arranged marriages are integral to some cultures

The report also warned the government's approach was seen as a "veiled assault" on arranged marriages and said the issue had to be handled carefully, in order to avoid derailing work combating forced marriages.

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Amos said: "This is about raising awareness and working with the community to ensure that everyone understands their rights.

"Everyone has the right to consent in marriage."

Since October, 2000, the Community Liaison Unit, set up by the Foreign Office, has dealt with over 440 cases concerning forced marriages.

Baroness Amos said she feared this was only the tip of the iceberg.

Human rights

She described forced marriages as a "grave human rights abuse" but stressed the paper was not an attack on arranged marriages.

The government also stressed it was not aimed purely at the Muslim community.

Back in February, Home Secretary David Blunkett suggested people should only look for arranged marriage partners inside the UK.

Mr Blunkett said he respected and recognised arranged marriages, but believed there were "grey areas".

However, speculation has grown that his call for a debate on the issue has been fuelled by a desire to control immigration from South Asia.

Mr Blunkett insisted his remarks were driven by a belief in "social cohesion".

He said fraudulent marriages were an increasing problem, while forced marriages abused women's rights.