It’s a highly romanticised vision,” he says.“There is [also] the economic argument: ‘I can’t afford to pay for a bride or a wedding” (in Kyrgyzstan you are expected to pay a “bride price” and host the family — a cost that is often beyond many of the poorer males).Kyrgyzstan has the highest maternal mortality rate in Central Asia — the large number of underage girls giving birth following forced marriage is one factor in this.Marriages resulting from bride kidnapping are also thought to cause significantly higher rates of domestic abuse and divorce.“We are putting in place free legal advice and representation: 40 per cent of lawyers in Kyrgyzstan have agreed to give up to 50 hours per year pro bono to victims of domestic violence,” There is also a frightening number of women who commit suicide following the abduction.He raped her, and although she managed to return to her home two days later, the experience traumatised her so badly she hanged herself in her backyard.Seitbek was sentenced to six years of prison for the crimes of kidnapping and rape.The fall out is also reaching the children of the kidnapped brides.
