Analyzing Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan: Tradition vs. Human Rights

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan, a practice where men abduct women for marriage. It explores the cultural context, highlighting how this tradition clashes with legal frameworks and human rights. The essay examines the prevalence of bride kidnapping, its impact on women, and the societal factors that contribute to its persistence, including poverty and the influence of local customs. It also investigates the legal responses, including criminal codes and the challenges of enforcement. The essay references various scholarly sources to support its arguments, discussing the perspectives of researchers and activists. It underscores the need for effective legislation, public awareness campaigns, and support systems to protect women's rights and address this harmful practice, advocating for a shift towards consensual marriage and gender equality. Furthermore, it addresses the role of media and government in the issue.

ESSAY:
KYRGYZSTAN

It can be assessed that bride kidnapping is a tradition in kyrgyzstan in which the man is
likely to kidnap the women to whom he wants to marry. Kleinbach and Babaiarova (2013) stated
that view of such kidnapping is done in order to get married by abduction and capture and thus
practices a crime in the eyes of law. However, without the consent of women, if she is kidnapped
it affects the humanity. Therefore, it is essential for government to regulate such practices and
thus crime is overlaps with tradition. It can be evaluated that 11,800 young women were
kidnapped every year and it was found that 2000 were assaulted till the year 2014. Mack (2015)
said that in the Central Asian region i.e. kyrgyzstan half of the women have been stolen or
kidnapped and forced to live with their future spouse to whom they don't know. Therefore, it can
be assessed that kyrgyzstan government need to bring effective laws in practice and overcome
such false tradition. In order to support kyrgyz women, different parties need to be developed so
that such crime can be overcome and provide safety and security to young women and girls.
As per the Barry (2016) through evaluating the Kyrgyz law, kidnapping your girlfriend
and assaulting her to get married with you is no different from abduction by a stranger in order to
get married. It is also a form of forceful marriage without the consent of girl and thus men should
be punished for the same (Barry, 2016). Also, Kyrgyz men should be taught and punished by the
law if they have done any such act so that their belief of tradition can be overcome. However,
Nedoluzhko and Agadjanian (2015) argued that kidnapping young girls and forcing them for
marriage is a crime and thus it has become the belief of the kyrgyz boys therefore, they grab and
run young women and force them to marry. Hence, it is essential for women right activists need
to develop their responsibility and provide freedom to women from being kidnapped. Bride
kidnapping is always being a crime and shame for the country and thus it is essential for
government to take strict action against such people who conduct such practices in the name of
tradition. Because of such action women afraid of going out and thus remain in their homes.
Moreover, with few English newspaper in the country, it was difficult to collect the data
on the issue which is discussed above. The major newspapers which are circulated in the country
are Alibi Asaba, Azat.kg, De facto, Erkin Too, Fabula, etc. However, in order to make this report
newspaper like Bishkek Observer, Kyrgyzstan Chronicle and The Times of Central Asia has
helped me a lot. Because I do not know the language of their local newspapers and by getting
some appropriate content from these English papers, this report has been formulated.

McKendry‐Smith and Jenkins (2016) stated that bride kidnapping is another source for
kyrgyzstan families to have retirement plan for elder parents. The youngest male of the family is
trained by his mother to acquire his spouse which needs to living in their house and serving their
parents at the time of old age. Thus, because of such situation, males of kyrgyzstan kidnaps
young women and force them to marry. It is very shameful for the country because such a crime
is named as tradition. It is essential for the kyrgyzstan government to implement new legislation
in practice and punish the people who violent the law. Until the culprit of kidnapping will not be
punished under the criminal law than consensual marriage will be celebrated and women rights
will be affected in kyrgyzstan. Hence, laws need to be developed and implemented in regard of
improving such condition so that women can also be given their rights of freedom to live freely
in the society and thus punish such men who conduct crime. Implementing new legislation
strictly in the country will helps in overcoming the kyrgyzstan tradition and belief so that young
brides would not be kidnapped by men. This practice will let country to grow in coming time
period and their popularity will attract more tourist towards it.
Furthermore, media suffers from editorial pressure from private owners or the authorities
because they are bounded to not to show the contents like bride kidnapping in that clear way
because it will depict the popularity of country. Apart from it, the government seeks to restrict
access to content related to terrorism or deemed to incite ethnic or religious hatred.
As per Wigginton Jr and et. al., (2014) kyrgyzstan culture, the kidnapped women for
marriage is not taken seriously by the local bodies as it is oftenly headed by local councils
headed by elders and thus they follow customary law away from state legal system. Sometime,
such elders are invited into the kidnapped women marriage and encourage the family of the bride
to accept this marriage (Wigginton Jr and et. al., 2014). Therefore, it is essential for legal system
to capture such people who force women to marry with them and thus provide punishment so
that such illegal tradition can be overcome. As per criminal act for kidnapping normally 7-10
years punishment is given to live behind the bars. Thus, bride kidnapping practice in the country
affects the women to live in society and dominates the women by men.
As Koishigulova and et. al., (2014), noticed by law and punishment wrestles between the
culture and society and does not willing to talk about social stigma that men rules over women.
Therefore, the kidnapper of young women need to be punished under the criminal offense and
prosecute the whole group to don't follow such tradition and custom that affects another

individual lives. However, Molchanova and et. al., (2015), argued that poverty is another major
cause that leads to kidnap women because kyrgyz weddings cost is high and thus due to poverty
groom's family is not able to marry their young men and thus they conduct crimes.
Moreover, from the view point of McKendry‐Smith and Jenkins (2016), there are various
other issues which are happening within the country. The Kyrgyz delegation headed by Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Erlan Abdyldasev participated in 14th meeting of the
Cooperative Council between the Kyrgyz Republic and the European Union. Further, the
meeting has talked about issues of political dialog, monetary advancement and the pragmatic
strides for the change of exchange opportunities, training, assurance of the earth and atmosphere.
The agenda of the event included the issues of regional cooperation, security and International
development.
Maochun and Wen (2014) noticed that kyrgyzstan follows bride kidnapping culture
which is of shame because kidnapping leads to rape and coercion. Therefore, it is a misleading
fact and thus women are afraid to go out and thus, they get married at early age in order to
remove themselves from the possibility of abduction. It has been assessed by the facts that 40%
of kyrgyzstan lawyers have agreed to give their 50 hours to the victims of domestic violence.
Thus, such type of support can help in overcoming divorce, inheritance, child access and
alimony. Also, there is high possibility to consider the marriage null and void as it was the result
of physical and moral duress. Therefore, bride kidnapping can be punished under the criminal
code and thus men will be forced to stop such act in the name of belief or tradition.
It has been assessed that men of kyrgyzstan thinks that marrying girl by kidnapping them
shows their behavior of forcing others and pressurizing to gain something illegally. Thus, it is
essential for government to implement new laws in order to prevent women from kidnapping and
provide them opportunity to live freely in the society.
According to Gould (2015) bride kidnapping is considered as marriage by capture and it
is a practice where man kidnap woman to whom he wishes to marry. This bride kidnapping
practice is more in kyrgyzstan. Further, in many nations this bride kidnapping is also treated as a
sex crime rather than a valid source of marriage (Gould, 2015). This practice is eventually
decreasing the popularity of nation and also impacting their growth and sustainability. Apart
from it, Gardner (2014) stated that the country is divided into non- consensual and consensual
abductions. Some kidnappers in kyrgyzstan is motivated by bride price, expenses of hosting

wedding celebration or fest to celebrate the girl which is leaving home. Some scenes arise as
some other person will kidnap that girl before the person who was willing to kidnap.
Moreover, in non consensual kidnapping, kidnapper either use deception or force bride to
come with him. This situation is really a pathetic issue which the government has to solve as
soon as possible. A women in kyrgyzstan is forcefully stretched into car. Further, the bride
usually in confusion and tears and that time she is forced to get into the kidnappers house where
his mother and sisters forces her to wear the headscarf. This bride kidnapping is really
misleading practice which affecting the growth of nation as well as development of society. King
(2015) stated that the crime are varied and some major practice which kidnappers follows are
abduction, kidnap and do physical and moral welfare. Further, women in kyrgyzstan need shelter
from all these bad practices and they are willing that if one from the whole lot is arrested then it
will be good for all women as after that they will be able to live their life properly. No bad
harassment will be done on them and this will give a reason to let them grow. Further, there also
do not exist any sort of news and media coverage whole over the world so that people from
across the globe can stand together for the protection and welfare of women (Bride Kidnapping
In kyrgyzstan, 2016).
From the view point of Wigginton Jr and et. al., (2014) bride kidnapping is illegal and the
law was enacted in kyrgyzstan as well. Article 154 and 155 of Criminal code, 1994 in kyrgyzstan
states that financial and criminal liabilities are imposed on kidnappers who follows illegal
practices like abducting women for the purpose of marriage. By taking such practice into
consideration, this practice can be duly stopped in the country so that women can have free life
there in and they will be able to enjoy their rights as well (Nedoluzhko and Agadjanian, 2015).

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Online
Bride Kidnapping In kyrgyzstan. 2016. [Online]. Available Through: <>. [Accessed on 26th April
2016].