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Forced marriage doctor wins court protection
Danny Brierley19 Dec 2008
A LONDON doctor fighting her family over a forced marriage in Bangladesh today won the latest round of a court battle against her parents.
The High Court granted orders preventing Dr Humayra Abedin, 33, being removed again from the UK without her consent.
The injunctions, against members of her family, carry the power of arrest if breached. Dr Abedin, from east London, returned to Britain on Tuesday after being held captive by her parents for four months.
She had hoped to become a registrar at a GP surgery in east London in August but, after receiving news her mother had been taken ill, returned to the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, where she was made to marry a stranger chosen for her by her family.
After today's hearing Dr Abedin said: "I want to get back to my normal life, and start my job. Everyone has been very supportive."
Giving an insight into her treatment at the psychiatric hospital in Bangladesh where she was held against her will, she added: "I have been in a psychiatric hospital on medication. They [doctors at the hospital] were not giving me any diagnosis. I was forced to stay there for three months on psychiatric drugs.
"I hope that more people who have been forced into marriage will now come forward. I would like to help them come forward.
"If I could say anything to them it would be to not give up hope, it is a very painful process."
Dr Abedin revealed that she has forgiven her mother and father.
"They are still my parents. I don't have any bad feelings against them, there are no grudges. I am very happy, you can imagine."
The High Court in London issued an order while she was still in captivity on 5 December under the new Forced Marriage Act - legislation which allows British courts to prevent anyone being forced into marriage.
Mr Justice Coleridge said during today's court hearing: "I shall grant further orders to protect Dr Abedin and prevent her being removed from this country again without her consent."
Reader views (11)
Today the younger generation have got the passion and strength to fight for their rights and put themselves first, without worry about how their parents feelings and, the disappointed brought about with them not conforming to the cultural norm.
I have been robbed of my whole life it seems, and possibly left it too late to fight for my rights, and life. I feel I might aswel take off my apron as my duty is done, and lay down and die, to be buried in dirt!!Who cares?? If there's anyone out there who can help me, please do so. I'm finding it very hard to fight the xhusband and his wife!
- Narinder, Leeds, UK, 20/01/2009 22:31
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Erika - "For 40 years you've been a female" - How old are you now and what were you before?
- Sandy, London, 22/12/2008 09:15
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It's heart-warming how generous you're prepared to be with the British taxpayers' money, Katie, but many people are treated "with the utmost contempt and cruelty" in the Third World: do you suggest we should bring them all here?
And I see you're from London, Katie: isn't there something called a "housing shortage" there?
- Croyboy, Croydon, 22/12/2008 08:36
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I will only marry Doctor Abedin if she consents
- Brian Wall, Thornton, Colorado, 22/12/2008 01:24
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Who is next ?
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD, 21/12/2008 23:08
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and what does this have to do with British people? Why are we playing policeman for foreigners? Enough is enough.
- Neil, London UK, 21/12/2008 17:59
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Pat, from Sussex, I don't give a stuff (as many will agree with me) how much money it has cost the taxpayer in this country. We have received back into the UK a woman who has been treated by her family with the utmost contempt and cruelty, a woman who wants to contribute to this country. God bless you Doctor Abedin.
- Katie, London, 20/12/2008 22:41
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Mm, but what about respecting other cultures and ways of life? After all, one is no more "correct" or "better" than another, is it?
...Or have the rules changed now? (I find it SO hard to keep up with the latest trends!)
- Croyboy, Croydon, 20/12/2008 17:04
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I am really pleased for her as an individual but could we know how much this has cost the british tax payer.
- Pat, sussex, 20/12/2008 09:58
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Well done Dr Humayra Abedin God give you long life and more courage to encounter such problem and show a candle to suffering persons around the globe. Parents should be more careful about their children for their bright future.
- Sular, London, 20/12/2008 07:43
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What a nutty world we live in. She's 33 for God's sake! I wish women were cared about as much as racial and religious minorities. Of course, those groups have men in them, thereby making them infinitely more worthy of concern. Pardon my cynicism. It's almost 40 yrs I've been female and stories like this leave me feeling very drained.
Kudos though, to the Judge! There's hope! 
Hang in there western ideas, you're not as evil as so many like to say...
- Erika, Minneapolis, USA, 20/12/2008 03:05
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