Four individuals suspected of kidnapping a 19-year-old girl for the purpose of marriage have been detained in Azerbaijan's Tovuz district.
According to the regional group of the press service of the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) received a report on April 3 regarding the forced abduction of a local resident. Following an immediate search operation, police officers located the young woman and safely returned her to her family.
The suspects, identified as 32-year-old Nemat Mammadov, his 34-year-old brother Ismat Mammadov, and their fellow villagers, 38-year-old Elmar Abdiyev and 42-year-old V. Taghiyeva, were taken into custody. A criminal case has been launched under the relevant article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan pertaining to kidnapping. Investigative measures are currently ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
In Azerbaijan, the government has significantly toughened legal measures against forced marriages and bride kidnapping, which are strictly prohibited under national law. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs consistently conduct awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents, emphasizing that kidnapping for marriage is a serious crime carrying heavy prison sentences. These efforts are part of Azerbaijan's broader commitment to protecting human rights and ensuring the safety and dignity of all citizens, particularly women, across the country.
