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UK doc in forced marriage

In one of the first cases to be heard under the new Forced Marriage Act in Britain, lawyers are desperately trying to save a London-based Bangladeshi doctor from being forcibly married by her parents in Bangladesh.

Updated on: Dec 8, 2008, 22:17:18 IST
IANS | By , London
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In one of the first cases to be heard under the new Forced Marriage Act in Britain, lawyers are desperately trying to save a London-based Bangladeshi doctor from being forcibly married by her parents in Bangladesh.

HT Image
HT Image

Humayrah Abedin, 33, was lured to Bangladesh on a false pretext August and her lawyers fear she has been held captive ever since, possibly gagged, bound and beaten to force her to submit to a marriage of her parents' choice.

Anne-Marie Hutchinson, the barrister acting for Humayrah, told The Independent: “There are real concerns for the safety of this young woman. It is understood that she is to be married this weekend.

“The Forced Marriage Act offers protection to all residents of this country. It makes it clear that because she lives here, it is not just a domestic matter for the Bangladesh authorities”, she added.

The UK high court has already issued a order under the new Act, which has been served by Humayrah's lawyers on her parents in Bangladesh, after her parents reportedly chose to ignore the orders of a Bangladesh court.

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