Kazakhstan is set to tighten regulations against bride kidnapping—where women are abducted and forced into marriage—a lawmaker told media on Thursday.
Despite some progress in women’s rights, the practice, condemned by rights groups, is reportedly on the rise in the Central Asian country, according to officials.
“Unfortunately, cases of bride kidnapping are increasing,” lawmaker Murat Abenov told media in an interview.
Abenov introduced a bill to parliament on Wednesday aimed at tackling the issue and has gained the support of the parliament’s chairman, Yerlan Koshanov.
Koshanov, a member of the ruling party, described bride kidnapping as a “growing disease” and “one of the most pressing problems” in Kazakh society, according to local media reports.
Abenov told media that “only a small number of cases are brought to court,” as the current legal framework “does not provide an adequate and effective response to bride kidnapping.”
Kazakh authorities admit that there are no reliable statistics on how widespread bride kidnapping is. In the southern Turkestan region, there have been 18 reported cases this year, Abenov said.
The issue of women’s rights gained significant attention in Kazakhstan last year when a former lawmaker murdered his wife. The case shocked the nation, leading President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to pass several laws aimed at enhancing protections for women.
Earlier this year, Tokayev stated that some individuals, “hiding behind so-called tradition,” were attempting to impose the practice of bride kidnapping, which he insisted “cannot be justified.”