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Posts Tagged ‘kidnap’

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Forced Marriage: Kazakhstan Stealing the Bride Video Highlights ‘Barbaric’ Kidnapping Practice

Published: October 15th, 2014 Updated: December 1st, 2021

Footage of a Kazakh woman apparently being kidnapped and dragged into the house of her future husband has surfaced online. The video shows the woman being pulled out from a car and forced to enter the house of the man who wants to marry her. Some people take pictures and videos as the girl cries and refuses to get off the car, while neighbours look on with curiosity.

When the girl is dragged into the new house, women throw petals and confetti on her. The video, entitled Stealing the Bride, depicts an ancient tradition still practised in several countries in central Asia, Africa and South America, according to which future brides are abducted by friends of the husband-to-be.

During the kidnapping, women cry and beg to be released and when they reach the house of the men who want to marry them, they are pressurised to accept the marriage and celebrate with the new family.

Read more:http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/forced-marriage-kazakhstan-stealing-bride-video-highlights-barbaric-kidnapping-practice-1469927

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Moroccan Teenager Forced To Marry Her Rapist Kills Herself

Published: December 3rd, 2013 Updated: November 30th, 2013

Forced to marry the man who had raped her, a 16-year-old Moroccan girl committed suicide last month. She had been raped by another minor in the northern port city of Tetouan. As Abdel Ali El-Allawi, director of the local chapter of an international NGO, the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH),  said to Al Jazeera, the rapist was first put into prison but that his family “entered negotiations with the family of the victim” and proposed that their son marry the teenager; her family assented.

Under Article 475 of the Moroccan Penal Code, rapists who marry their victims can be exonerated from their crime. He cannot be prosecuted unless the woman is able to obtain a divorce, a situation that is highly unlikely as, under Moroccan law, the decision of a judge authorizing such a marriage cannot be reversed.

Pressure to repeal the law rose last year after the suicide of 16-year-old Amina Filali, who killed herself with rat poison after she had been forced to marry her rapist who was ten years older than her. She had also been regularly beaten by her husband and mistreated by his family, whom she lived with after being married. After her suicide, her rapist was summoned by the police and then released.

Khadija Riyadi, president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, explains that a woman who loses her virginity is considered unmarriageable and guilty of dishonoring her family, even if she was raped.

Last year, women’s rights groups like Mouvement Alternatif pour les Libertés Individuelles (MALI) and women’s rights activists demonstrated and demanded that Article 475 be repealed. The calls to do so spread beyond Morocco, with a Twitter hashtag #RIPAmina calling for Article 475 to be eliminated.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/moroccan-teenager-forced-to-marry-her-rapist-kills-herself-2.html#ixzz2m8f02ejg

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Anti-forced marriages plan adopted

Published: November 30th, 2013 Updated: November 30th, 2013

THE social, humanitarian and cultural (third) committee of the United Nations (UN) has adopted a resolution aimed at ending early and forced marriages.
The adopted resolution would be co-chaired and co-sponsored by Zambia and Canada. According to a statement by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN, Chibaula Silwamba, the third committee of the UN adopted by consensus the resolution titled ‘Child, Early, and Forced Marriage’ with a record 109 member-States as co-sponsors. Zambia’s envoy to the UN Mwaba Kasese-Bota told the 193 UN member States on Thursday last week that so many children had been forced into early marriages,  a practice which deprived them of the full enjoyment of their rights as children. The practice also set them up for a compromised adulthood where they were unlikely to realise their full potential.
Dr Kasese-Bota said the high number of co-sponsors demonstrated the global support for the elimination and possible eradication of child, early and forced marriage.

Read More: http://www.times.co.zm/?p=44307

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Hope at last for Yemen’s child brides as the country’s leaders finally act to stop forced marriages of girls as young as NINE

Published: November 25th, 2013 Updated: December 1st, 2021

From Sally Al-Sabahi who, after being married at the age of 10, was raped and beaten by her much older husband to 13-year-old Ilham who, in 2010, died from internal bleeding four days after being forcibly married, the plight of Yemen’s child brides makes for harrowing reading. But following international condemnation and campaigns by charities such as UNICEF and Equality Now, the country’s government finally appears ready to end the shocking tradition once and for all.

Fouad Al Ghaffari, the director general of Yemen’s Ministry of Human Rights, has revealed that the country’s minister for Legal Affairs, Mohammed Al Mikhlafi, is to submit a bill that would outlaw child marriages if passed. And in a sign that attitudes might finally be changing in the Middle Eastern country, it was reported last week that police officers stepped in to prevent the marriage of a nine-year-old girl in the southern city of Taiz – the first time such an intervention has taken place.

According to reports on the BBC website, police halted the wedding and convinced the father of the girl, named locally as Hiba, not to allow the nuptials to go ahead.

Although there is nothing currently to prevent Hiba’s wedding from happening at a later date, campaigners are cautiously welcoming of the intervention and the news that legislation could be imminent. ‘In 2009, the Yemeni parliament considered a draft bill that fixed the minimum age of marriage for girls at age 17 and included penalties and punishment for those in violation,’ said Equality Now’s Middle East and North Africa consultant, Suad Abu-Dayyeh.

‘Unfortunately this was not successful, but we are heartened that the Yemeni Human Rights Minister Hooria Mashhour has requested the reintroduction of this bill, which would effectively ban child marriages in the country.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2497997/Hope-Yemens-child-brides-countrys-leaders-finally-act-stop-forced-marriages-girls-young-NINE.html#ixzz2lgO1Pahj

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Determinants of child and forced marriage in Morocco: stakeholder perspectives on health, policies and human rights

Published: October 25th, 2013 Updated: October 20th, 2013

In Morocco, the social and legal framework surrounding sexual and reproductive health has transformed greatly in the past decade, especially with the introduction of the new Family Law or Moudawana. Yet, despite raising the minimum age of marriage for girls and stipulating equal rights in the family, child and forced marriage is widespread.

The objective of this research study was to explore perspectives of a broad range of professionals on factors that contribute to the occurrence of child and forced marriage in Morocco.  Methods: A qualitative approach was used to generate both primary and secondary data for the analysis. Primary data consist of individual semi-structured interviews that were conducted with 22 professionals from various sectors: health, legal, education, NGO’s and government.

Sources of secondary data include academic papers, government and NGO reports, various legal documents and media reports. Data were analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis.  Results: Four major themes arose from the data, indicating that the following elements contribute to child and forced marriage: (1) the legal and social divergence in conceptualizing forced and child marriage; (2) the impact of legislation; (3) the role of education; and (4) the economic factor.

Emphasis was especially placed on the new Family Code or Moudawana as having the greatest influence on advancement of women’s rights in the sphere of marriage. However, participants pointed out that embedded patriarchal attitudes and behaviours limit its effectiveness.

Read More: http://7thspace.com/headlines/445657/determinants_of_child_and_forced_marriage_in_morocco_stakeholder_perspectives_on_health_policies_and_human_rights.html

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Protest in Kerala over forced marriage of minor girl

Published: September 21st, 2013 Updated: September 20th, 2013

Thiruvananthpauram: The reported forced marriage of a minor Kerala girl, who was staying in an orphanage, to a visiting Arab has led to protests in the state, with the Democratic Youth Federation of India staging a siege of the social welfare office in Kozhikode. The news of the 17-year-old girl’s forced marriage has been in the limelight in the state over the past few days. The girl’s mother had earlier complained to the state human rights commission. The girl had stated that she had agreed to the marriage only because of coaxing by the orphanage authorities. The DYFI today demanded that the licence of the orphanage be cancelled based on the girl’s complaint.

The girl’s complaint mentioned that an Arab had married her in June at the orphanage, and sexually exploited her after taking her to some resorts in the state. The state human rights commission has directed the police and social welfare departments to submit a report immediately after conducting investigation into the matter.

Read More: http://gulfnews.com/news/world/india/protest-in-kerala-over-forced-marriage-of-minor-girl-1.1224213

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Teenager ‘mentally ill’ after forced marriage and beatings by local goon

Published: September 21st, 2013 Updated: October 17th, 2022

The victim cannot even speak properly and bears marks of serious injuries on her head and different parts of body.

A 16-year-old girl has fallen mentally ill after being tortured by a local goon for refusing to settle down with him following a forced marriage. Masuma Akter cannot even speak properly and bears marks of serious injuries on her head and different parts of body. Currently she is going under treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where her two legs remain tied to the bed as she often loses control of her body. Masuma was a candidate for the HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate) exam from Loahir Madrasa of Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj district. On June 24, Sajib Matubbor, 25, abducted her as she was walking to the madrasa from her home and he later forced her into marriage through intimidation, alleged Masuma’s family members. After a week, Sajib’s father made them get a divorce and sent Masuma back to her home, calling her a “bad girl,” they said.

One month later, Sajib went to Masuma’s house and told her to come back to him. When she refused, he beat her up badly. Learning of the incident, Masuma’s family sent her away from Gopalganj to stay with her uncle in Madaripur. Sajib found her there alone and after she again refused to accompany him, he hit her with bricks on the head, leaving her seriously injured.

Alerted by her cries for help, locals detained Sajib and handed him over to Madaripur police. Later, on September 1, Masuma’s father filed a case of “attempt to murder” with Madaripur Sadar police station and admitted Masuma to Faridpur sadar hospital. As her condition deteriorated, the doctors of Faridpur Hospital suggested her transfer to DMCH, where she was admitted on September 7 and remains under medication. While asked about the progress of the case, Sanjay Kumar, sub-inspector of Madaripur Sadar police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that Sajib was sent to jail and they would submit the charge sheet of the case shortly after completing some relevant investigation. Akmal Uddin, the father of the victim, however, claimed they were passing the days in fear as they suspected Sajib might come out of jail anytime.

Read More: http://www.dhakatribune.com/crime/2013/sep/19/teenager-%E2%80%98mentally-ill%E2%80%99-after-forced-marriage-and-beatings-local-goon

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Forced marriages: School holidays prompt warning

Published: August 12th, 2013 Updated: December 1st, 2021

Teachers, doctors and airport staff need to be alert to the problem of forced marriages over the school holidays, the government has warned. Ministers said there were concerns about teenagers being taken abroad thinking they were going on holiday but being forced into marriage instead. Figures suggest cases are particularly common during the summer break. The government’s Forced Marriage Unit received 400 reports between June and August last year.

Recent estimates suggest more than 5,000 people from the UK are forced into marriage every year. More than a third of those affected are aged under 16. The government is calling for increased awareness, and is promoting an advice line and information cards aimed at potential victims to explain how they can get help.

Tougher action

Foreign Office minister Mark Simmonds said: “The school summer holidays are the time when young people are at the highest risk of being taken overseas for a forced marriage.”Our ‘Marriage: It’s Your Choice’ cards highlight that people who are at risk of forced marriage know they can turn to our Forced Marriage Unit for support, whether they are at home or are already abroad.” Ministers said it was wrong that teenagers who should be thinking about their exam results found themselves lured into a life of fear and subservience instead.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23639070

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Judge calls for new laws to help young forced into marriage

Published: July 26th, 2013 Updated: July 25th, 2013

Ireland:  NEW laws may be needed to help young people placed in arranged or forced marriages, a Supreme Court judge has said.

The system for seeking exemptions from the legal age limit for marriage may also need to be reviewed as it raises child welfare questions, according to Mr Justice John MacMenamin of the Supreme Court. Judge MacMenamin raised the possibilities of new laws as it emerged that a marriage between a 16-year-old girl and a 29-year-old man – both of whom are from the Islamic faith – was annulled by court order. Serious concerns remain for the welfare of the Pakistani-born girl, who was later taken to Egypt by her mother despite a court order restraining her removal from Ireland.

The marriage took place in an Islamic centre in 2010 and was annulled in September 2011 due to lack of “full, free and informed consent” on behalf of the teen. The girl, known only as R, had a brief acquaintance with her intended husband before the marriage.

 

Judge John MacMenamin highlighted the case of a 16-year-old who was in an arranged marriage

Persons aged under 18 must get the permission of the Circuit Family Court or the High Court to get married. Before the ceremony, two applications were made to exempt the girl from the age restriction and from the requirement to give three months’ notice of intention to marry.

Read More: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/judge-calls-for-new-laws-to-help-young-forced-into-marriage-29355450.html

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