Bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan – a cruel tradition.
Every fifth girl in Kyrgyzstan are kidnapped in order to force to give in marriage. These data were recently voiced by the international public organization “Girls Not Brides”, whose members defend the rights of underage girls coerced into marriage. What happens in this Asian country is nothing like the familiar rituals of a symbolic kidnapping of the bride. Fear, physical and psychological violence, blackmail – through all of this have to go to the innocent victims.
The custom of bride kidnapping exists in Kyrgyzstan for many years, but in recent decades, completely changed its essence. Before the kidnapping was solved men of moderate means, who were unable to pay the dowry for his beloved, or, conversely, rich people, who chose their wives protruding. But whatever it was, the men were plotting a plan to steal only when they have already had relations with the girl, the feelings were mutual, and in this case, the parents on both sides were glad of the incident.
The current situation in Kyrgyzstan, the situation is much worse. Most often the girls are kidnapped directly on the street, force shoving into the car and taking to the house of a man she had never seen. Girl force keep in the house for several days, always trying to persuade to accept the marriage. Often, being in despair, the hapless victims say “Yes” only to return to a normal life.
It is also important that the woman who visited the house of the man considered lost innocence (aware of cases where the kidnappers do rape victims), so to come home after that, too difficult. For the older generation to refuse to groom tantamount to incur the disgrace. Some of the captives manages to escape, but upon returning home they may face with the failure of parents to take them to the house. There are times when the tormented girl can not cope with their feelings and commit suicide, having escaped from captivity.
A terrible rite is called Ala kachuu, which translated literally means “grab and run”. Per year about 15 thousand women suffer from such violence. Often steal young girls, every tenth victim is under 18 years of age. If the girl had already been kidnapped, but not married, to find a decent guy it will be almost impossible, few people will pay attention to a girl with a tarnished reputation.
Kyrgyz law envisages punishment for stealing brides, but the brides relatives hardly ever go to the police. For most people, it is part of the tradition, which must be followed. Most often the police are the parents of the girls, who after such kidnappings are disabled, there are cases when statements to the police write to the relatives of the girls who had killed himself, being unable to cope with the shame. But even in this case, the cases are not investigated, often ignored, and the perpetrators walk free.
According to statistics, to escape from the kidnapper manages approximately 20% of girls, rest consent to marriage. In most cases, men are looking for young and healthy girls who will become to farm, will handle the ground, it’s more free labor. The wedding had to take place quickly, as soon as she agrees, and then start heavy work days. Such marriages often fall apart soon after a divorce women want to get the education that I had to quit because of theft, to find a job. Manage units. As well as a few manage to find true love after the nightmare that they had endured.
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