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Court supports forced marriage GP | Court supports forced marriage GP |
(about 4 hours 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 tricked by her parents, held captive for four months and made to marry a man, the court heard. | 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. |
Judges have ruled that she cannot be removed again from the UK without her consent. | |
After the hearing Dr Abedin said: "I'm very happy to be back." | |
Injunctions were issued against Dr Abedin's parents, a paternal uncle and the man she was allegedly forced to marry. | 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." | 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 Abedin | You can understand that being held captive and against the will, it's not very easy Dr Humayra Abedin |
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." | |
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." |
Dr Abedin said that anyone in a similar situation should "not give up hope". | Dr Abedin said that anyone in a similar situation should "not give up hope". |
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. | 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. |
"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." |
'Constantly guarded' | 'Constantly guarded' |
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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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". | On 14 November she "entered into a marriage ceremony against her will and under duress". |
'Complete aberration' | '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. | 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. | 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". | 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". | 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". |