'Forced marriage' doctor freed by courts
Sunday, 14 December 2008
An NHS doctor being held captive by her family in her native Bangladesh has been freed by the courts and can return to Britain, her lawyer said.
Dr Humayra Abedin, 33, from east London, was being held by her parents against her will in the capital Dhaka.
Lawyer Sara Hossain said: "The High Court has issued an order under the Forced Marriage Act that she must be released by her family and allowed to return to the UK
"She's free to go, she's been set at liberty and she wants to return to the UK. Her family has been ordered to return her passport.
"We're delighted with the result, the rights of a Bangladeshi woman have been protected as they should be.
"Dr Abedin looks very relieved, she's a very brave woman."
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 Dhaka.
Two months ago, the Foreign Office issued a protection order under the Forced Marriage Act, however, this was not enforceable overseas because Dr Abedin is not a British national.
However, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said the order was issued in the hope that it might "carry some weight" with the Bangladeshi court system.
The British High Commission in Dhaka will not be able to offer Dr Abedin any "formal assistance" or "consular service" in her return to the UK because she is not a British national.
However, her lawyer confirmed that Dr Abedin will head there after leaving court to speak with the Commission.
- Next Article In Asia
- Print Article
- Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2008 Independent News and Media Limited