Screenshot from a video showing a bride kidnapping in the Turkestan region
Members of the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, have proposed amendments to the country’s Criminal Code to introduce penalties for bride kidnapping. The amendments are expected to be adopted soon, according to Deputy Murat Abenov, as reported by Vlast.kz.
He stated that the proposal is currently under review by a working group focused on optimizing the Criminal, Penal Enforcement, and Criminal Procedure Codes. The new article would impose different penalties depending on the circumstances, including fines, community service, or imprisonment.
“If it is committed by a group, involves a minor, or results in harm, the penalty will range from three to five years in prison. If the victim is forcibly held at home and subjected to psychological or physical pressure, the law must be on her side,” Abenov emphasized.
He added that bride kidnappings are sometimes disguised as “traditions,” but in reality, they are not part of Kazakh heritage. “In truth, we never had such traditions. If a girl wanted to marry against her parents’ wishes, she might run away on her own. If her family lacked financial means, she could elope. But among Kazakhs, it was never customary to kidnap a girl from a particular clan—that would have been an insult, punishable by death. Forcing a woman against her will has always been considered a serious crime,” the lawmaker stated.
Kazakhstan’s criminal legislation currently lacks a separate article specifically addressing bride kidnapping. In most cases, perpetrators are prosecuted under general kidnapping laws, which carry sentences of up to 15 years in prison. However, the law includes a provision that exempts an offender from liability if they voluntarily release the victim and have not committed any other crimes.
In 2018, an 18-year-old woman kidnapped for forced marriage was rescued by officers from the Organized Crime Unit in Almaty.
The previous year, a high-profile case in Aktobe saw two young men attempt to abduct a stranger from a local market. A security guard intervened, preventing the kidnapping and assisting in the suspects’ arrest. The would-be groom was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, while his accomplice, who had a prior criminal record, received a five-year sentence.
In 2023, a court in Taraz sentenced two men—natives of the Mangystau and Aktobe regions—to seven years in prison each for bride kidnapping.
