First Cases Registered Under New Law on Forced Marriage in Kazakhstan

The first criminal cases under Article 125-1 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan — coercion into marriage — have been registered in Shymkent and the Qyzylorda region, Orda.kz reports.

Under the new law, coercion into marriage is punishable by a fine of up to 2,000 monthly calculation indices (approximately 7.86 million tenge), correctional labor, restriction of liberty, or imprisonment for up to two years. If the crime results in serious consequences, the penalty may reach up to 10 years in prison.

Incidentally, in Qaraganda, a 15-year-old girl was married to a 38-year-old man, and the trial over the incident recently began. According to the girl’s biological father, the stepfather gave his stepdaughter to an acquaintance “in accordance with Sharia law.”

At the same time, Article 115-1 of the Criminal Code — addressing stalking, or systematic harassment without violence — has also come into effect. Two criminal cases have already been opened under this article in the Atyrau and Pavlodar regions.

In Atyrau, a man is accused of approaching women’s homes at night and committing indecent acts under their windows.

Over the past five years, 257 criminal cases involving forced marriage have been registered in Kazakhstan, but 95% were dismissed. The new law eliminates this possibility — such cases will no longer be dropped, even if the victim withdraws the complaint.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov