On Wednesday (29 April), the parliament of Russia’s Republic of Ingushetia submitted a draft bill to the State Duma, suggesting […]
On Wednesday (29 April), the parliament of Russia’s Republic of Ingushetia submitted a draft bill to the State Duma, suggesting a three-year imprisonment penalty for kidnapping women and forcing them into marriage.
The tradition of bride abduction, which still persists in some regions of Russia, usually goes unpunished, since the “issue” is often settled between the families of the bride and the abductor. Also, victims often do not file complaints, as they are afraid of losing their “honor” and “purity” if the case goes public.
The Ingushetia authorities have been working to eradicate the “tradition,” but only managed to reduce the number of cases.
Back in 2013, Muslim leaders of the region imposed fines of 200,000 rubles ($3,550) on bride abductors and 100,000 rubles on their accomplices, greatly reducing the number of abductions.
The draft bill was introduced after a recent incident which occurred in Ingushetia on April 8, when several men violently abducted a 19-year-old from her home, injuring some of her relatives in the process. One of the abductors was arrested and faces criminal charges, while relatives of the abductee managed to bring the woman back home.