Bride Kidnapping - Kyrgyzstan

3/4 Kyrgyz brides betrothed through kidnapping

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Follow us on a curious adventure to Kyrgystan, where bride kidnapping is a proud tradition. As women struggle to preserve their autonomy, the controversial practice is seeing a surge in popularity.

A young woman is washing her hands under a water pump when three men surround her from behind. They reach out and grab her. She screams, kicks, struggles and cries as her future husband watches on. This is romance Kyrgyz style. "When we met for the first time he asked me, should I send my parents or should I just kidnap you? I replied, don't do it, I have a boyfriend." But reluctance on the bride's side is no obstacle. "The second time we met, they just kidnapped me", the woman tells us as she sits next to the man that is now her husband. This is no fringe tradition: the majority of marriages in rural Kyrgyz areas result from it. In many instances it is decided between both families and the girl may even know.Technically illegal, degrading and often violent, it isn't usually a recipe for happily ever after. Unsurprisingly, "spousal abuse is higher in kidnap marriages. The divorce rate is higher in kidnap marriages."

January 2012

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Bride
• Kidnapping
• Kyrgyzstan
• Tradition
• Controversial
• Practise
• Marriage
• Violence
• Wife
• Husband
• VICE
• Journeyman
• Pictures

[beekyosuke]

The problem with bride kidnapping is that it can be confused with people kidnapping. If I was to see that in the USA, the first action that would come from me is a bullet to the head of the driver. This is disturbing. What if it was not for bride intent, but for other bad intentions? People wouldn't know.

[albeanmagz19]

If my girl was to be kidnapped like that, no one of the kidnappers will leave the place alive

[dhruvdnar]

WTF!!! bloody ASS HOLES!!!

[albeanmagz19]

@MSI2k stupid fuck, well if that happens to your family you won't do anything!?!? oh yeah just take them I don't mind. well for you maybe.

[ariffian84]

That's the first time i saw a sheep in the trunk! Lol

[ping0]

very interesting !

[forgottenmemories63]

Parading Dead Goats ? Kidnapping women ?

That's one really weird tradition you got there xD

[MiffyKitties]

Great job on this man. I really appreciated how you shared your concerns, but didn't paint the whole thing in a negative light. You showed love for their culture while at the same time not condoning the practice. I look forward to watching more of your stuff.

[ludenihsan]

this is crazy...totally brutal,violent and shocking....fuck the culture...think of the human feelings...DAMN

[JamaRoxyy1]

Okay people you need to come down! i'm kyrgyz myself , and i know this doesn't seem right and i'm totally against it ! I used to live in Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyzstan and trust me this tradition does not exist in the city anymore , it is only in the village where the education is not that strong and they(uneducated ppl) still hold on on their old traditional values.Bride kidnappings is the only thing i dont like in our tradition , i believe we should get rid of it .

[MSI2k]

@albeanmagz19 Oh look! We have an internet-tough guy!

[fomiz]

@uzpower not only that in america there are 8 year old transexual children LMFAO, yet a man can not legally marry more than one wife. WTF?