Kazakhstan has passed a new law criminalising forced marriage and closing legal loopholes that previously allowed perpetrators of bride kidnapping to avoid punishment.

Bride kidnapping — the abduction of a woman or girl with the intent to force her into marriage — remains a longstanding problem in parts of the country.

Under the new legislation, offenders will face up to ten years in prison, even if they release their victims voluntarily, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. “Now this possibility is excluded: even with the voluntary release of the victim, the guilty person will be brought to justice,” according to the ministry.

The move follows years of criticism from human rights groups and officials, who say the practice often results in physical and psychological harm, including unlawful detention, sexual violence and, in some cases, suicide. The Ombudsman’s office had previously warned that many victims were unable to report the crime, while some perpetrators did not realise their actions were illegal.

The law also introduces a new provision into Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code, specifically targeting forced marriage. It allows for prison terms of five to ten years in cases that result in serious consequences. Harsher penalties apply if the offence involves violence, minors, abuse of power or group participation, according to law enforcement officials.

The proposal to outlaw bride kidnapping was first introduced in 2023. At the time, officials said legal ambiguity and social stigma discouraged victims from coming forward.

Several neighbouring Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, have already criminalised the practice.

The legislation is part of a wider legal reform package signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in July 2025. The reforms also cover related offences such as stalking, coercion and harassment.

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