Media reports say hundreds of people rallied in front of Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry in Bishkek today to demand the resignation of its leadership for what they called police inaction over the murder of a kidnapped woman.
RIA Novosti says more than hundred people gathered in front of the ministry building. They held posters saying “The crime must be punished”, “How many of us need to die to stop being kidnapped” and “Ala-Kachuu (bride abduction – Asia-Plus) is not our tradition.”
Some of demonstrators reportedly demanded resignation of Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that hundreds of people rallied in front of Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry in Bishkek today to demand the resignation of its leadership for police inaction over the murder of a kidnapped woman.
About 500 people reportedly rallied in front of the ministry building, shouting “Shame!.”
The reason for the rally was the resonant murder of a 27-year-old woman.
Aizada Kanatbekova, 27, was kidnapped on April 5 and found strangled in a car in a rural area two days later, together with her suspected murderer who had died from knife wounds, apparently self-inflicted.
His suspected accomplice has been detained, according to Reuters.
The fact that police had failed to find the suspect even though the kidnapping had been caught on camera with the car model and number plates clearly visible has prompted public outrage and calls for senior officials’ resignation.
Prime Minister Ulugbek Sharipov addressed the crowd, asking the people to give police time to investigate the crime.
President Sadyr Japarov said in a statement the culprits would be punished. He also condemned the practice of bride abduction, which remains widespread in Kyrgyzstan despite official pledges to crack down on it.
The practice involves a potential groom forcibly taking a young woman or girl back to his home before pressuring her to agree to marriage by writing a letter of consent.
People say it is a myth that the bride abduction was ever part of the culture. Kyrgyzstan outlawed it in 2013 after authorities recognized it could lead to marital rape, domestic violence, and psychological trauma. Bride abduction is reportedly made punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
