Kidnap doctor was forced into marriage

THE London doctor held captive by her family in Bangladesh said today that she was forced into marrying a man against her wishes.

Humayra Abedin, 33, said she is now trying to get the marriage annulled.

Dr Abedin said in a statement issued through her lawyer that the marriage took place on 14 November to a person "of my parents' choice".

It went on: "I entered into the marriage ceremony under duress. I did not consent to the marriage."

She arrived back in London yesterday after legal action begun in London under the new Forced Marriages Act led to a court in Dhaka ordering her release to the British High Commission on Sunday.

Dr Abedin moved to the United Kingdom in 2002 and was due to start work as a trainee GP in August. But she returned to Dhaka when she was told that her mother was ill. She said she was then held captive at her parents' home.

After succeeding in getting messages to her friends to say that she was being held against her will, a series of legal moves were instituted on her behalf.

Campaigners have hailed the ruling as a victory against forced marriages and say at least 300 other British-based woman are in a similar situation.