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Court supports forced marriage GP Court supports forced marriage GP
(about 1 hour later)
An NHS doctor who claimed she was forced into a marriage in Bangladesh cannot be removed from the UK against her will, the High Court has ruled.An NHS doctor who claimed she was forced into a marriage in Bangladesh cannot be removed from the UK against her will, the High Court has ruled.
Dr Humayra Abedin, 33, from east London, was allegedly tricked by her parents, held captive for four months and made to marry a man in November. Dr Humayra Abedin, 33, from east London, was tricked by her parents, held captive for four months and made to marry a man, the court heard.
The High Court has ruled that she cannot be removed again from the UK without her consent.The High Court has ruled that she cannot be removed again from the UK without her consent.
Dr Abedin is attempting to have the marriage annulled by the court. Outside court Dr Abedin said: "I'm very happy to be back."
Mr Justice Coleridge said: "I shall grant further orders to protect Dr Abedin and prevent her being removed from this country again without her consent." Injunctions were issued against Dr Abedin's parents, a paternal uncle and the man she was allegedly forced to marry.
Mr Justice Coleridge said: "I shall grant further orders to protect Dr Abedin and prevent her being removed from this country again."
You can understand that being held captive and against the will, it's not very easy Dr Humayra AbedinYou can understand that being held captive and against the will, it's not very easy Dr Humayra Abedin
Outside court Dr Abedin said: "I'm very happy to be back, but I'd like to get back to my life. Outside court Dr Abedin said: "I'm very happy to be back, but I'd like to get back to my normal life and start my job."
"I'm looking forward to starting my job."
She said the past few weeks had been "very difficult".She said the past few weeks had been "very difficult".
"You can understand that being held captive and against the will, it's not very easy.""You can understand that being held captive and against the will, it's not very easy."
Her solicitor Anne-Marie Hutchinson said the case was very important. Dr Abedin said that anyone in a similar situation should "not give up hope".
She said: "The profile it's received means that other people will feel that they can come forward and seek the relief, that as Mr Justice Coleridge said, they're entitled to." Her solicitor Anne-Marie Hutchinson said: "The profile it's (the case) received means that other people will feel that they can come forward and seek the relief that, as Mr Justice Coleridge said, they're entitled to.
Miss Hutchinson added: "He's emphasised what's been said before, that forced marriage is a breach of human rights, and where it happens this court will deal with it if cases come before it. "He's emphasised what's been said before; that forced marriage is a breach of human rights and where it happens this court will deal with it if cases come before it.
"I don't think it is a cultural issue, it's a human rights issue.""I don't think it is a cultural issue, it's a human rights issue."
'Under duress' 'Constantly guarded'
In a statement issued after her return to London on Tuesday, Dr Abedin said: "On 14 November 2008, I was forced to marry a person of my parents' choice.
"I was removed to another province of Bangladesh. I entered into the marriage ceremony under duress. I did not consent to the marriage."
Dr Abedin returned to the UK as a result of a British court order made under the Forced Marriage Act.
The High Court in London issued the order while she was still in Bangladesh under new legislation which allows British courts to prevent someone from being forced into marriage.
Dr Abedin came to the UK six years ago to study for a Masters degree in public health at Leeds University.Dr Abedin came to the UK six years ago to study for a Masters degree in public health at Leeds University.
She had hoped to become a registrar at a GP surgery in east London in August but, after receiving news her mother had taken ill, returned to the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, where she was then allegedly held captive. She had hoped to become a registrar at a GP surgery in east London in August but, after receiving news her mother had taken ill, returned to the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
A statement issued to the court revealed claims that on arrival at her family's home Dr Abedin was "manhandled into the property by a number of people and immediately locked in a room".
Her passport, tickets and other documents were confiscated, she was not free to leave the property and was always monitored by four or five guards, the statement said.
Dr Abedin was injected against her will at a clinic or hospital "with what she believed to be mood stabilisers and anti-psychotic drugs", the court heard.
On 14 November she "entered into a marriage ceremony against her will and under duress".
'Complete aberration'
While in captivity, Dr Abedin raised the alarm by sending an email to a friend in the UK asking for help.While in captivity, Dr Abedin raised the alarm by sending an email to a friend in the UK asking for help.
Dr Abedin returned to the UK as a result of a High Court order made under the Forced Marriage Act, issued while she was still in Bangladesh.
The new legislation allows British courts to prevent someone from being forced into marriage.
On Friday Mr Justice Coleridge said for anyone to go through a marriage without their consent was "a complete aberration of the whole concept of marriage in a civilised society".
Dr Abedin's counsel, Hassan Khan, said a petition to have the marriage annulled was likely to be issued "in due course should this be necessary in this jurisdiction".