The Documentary Podcast Stolen brides of Kazakhstan: The fightback
Dec 16, 2025
Khalida Azhigulova, a human rights lawyer and long-time activist, sheds light on the alarming issue of bride kidnapping in Kazakhstan. She discusses the recent law criminalizing forced marriage, a result of her two-decade campaign. The podcast features personal stories from women who faced abduction, revealing the societal pressures and trauma they endure. Khalida also connects these practices to broader issues of domestic violence and highlights changing attitudes as families start to embrace the importance of consent in marriage.
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Law Now Criminalises Forced Marriage
- Kazakhstan has criminalised forced marriage including kidnapping after two decades of activism led by Khalida Azhigulova.
- Lack of previous criminal penalties meant no reliable official statistics despite unofficial estimates of thousands yearly.
Clara’s Youthfully Stolen Marriage
- Clara was stolen at 16 while visiting relatives and felt she could not return because crossing a stranger's threshold meant shame.
- Her parents accepted a bride price and later Clara said she was fortunate because her new family treated her well.
Dinara’s Kidnap And Its Aftermath
- Dinara was snatched from a village street at 19 and taken to a house where his family forced her to sign papers and wear a white headscarf.
- She stayed because of shame, had three daughters, then was later expelled and ended up in a women's refuge.