Protest at horrors of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan

Summary of story from RFE/RL, May 11, 2011

Human rights organizations in Kyrgyzstan will hold a public meeting in the northern province of Issyk-Kul Oblast on May 18 to condemn bride kidnapping, Radio Free Europe’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

Banur Abdieva, chairwoman of the Rule of Law Women’s Alliance Group, told RFE/RL that two young women, Venera Kasymalieva and Nurzat Kalykova, committed suicide this year shortly after being abducted by men they were then forced to marry.

Bride kidnapping has been prevalent in some parts of Central Asia for centuries, but is mainly practiced in Kyrgyzstan.

It was suppressed by the Soviet regime but has made a comeback since Kyrgyzstan became independent in 1991.

In many cases the bride has never met the man who kidnaps her or has only met him briefly.