Kazakhstan Proposes 3-5 Year Prison Terms for Bride Kidnapping in New Criminal Code Amendment

Kazakhstan is moving to criminalize bride kidnapping, with proposed prison sentences of three to five years, Orda.kz reports.

Deputy Murat Abenov has announced that an amendment has been introduced to the bill on optimizing the Criminal, Criminal Enforcement, and Criminal Procedure Codes.

The proposal would impose criminal liability for abducting women for forced marriage.

I submitted the amendment and made a proposal. It is currently under review by the working group. We've defined various penalties — including imprisonment, fines, and community service — based on the situation. This could depend on factors like whether multiple people are involved, if a minor is affected, or if there’s any physical or psychological harm, Abenov explained.

If the amendment is passed, those convicted of bride kidnapping could face three to five years in prison.

If a girl is held against her will and subjected to psychological or physical pressure, the law must protect the victim,  the deputy emphasized.

Several months ago, Abenov spoke to Orda.kz, where he explained why he considers bride kidnapping a harmful pseudo-tradition rather than an actual cultural practice.

Original Author: Dilnaz Mamyrova