Shamkir, Azerbaijan — July 11 — A shocking case of attempted forced marriage has ignited a wave of criticism in Azerbaijan after three men convicted of kidnapping a schoolteacher were sentenced to restricted freedom but released directly from court.
The victim, N.G., a geography teacher in the village of Deller, was abducted by Bakhruz Agayev (name changed) and two accomplices, Vusal and Anar, after repeatedly rejecting Agayev’s proposals. On the day of the attack, the men ambushed the teacher outside her school, forcibly pushed her into a car, and took her to Agayev’s home in an attempt to pressure her into marriage.
Family members of the would-be groom then tried to convince her to accept the union, a disturbing echo of traditional practices that amount to coercion. But N.G. firmly refused and was eventually released. She reported the incident to the authorities, prompting a criminal investigation under Article 144 (kidnapping) of the Criminal Code.
Minimal Penalties for a Serious Crime
The Ganja Serious Crimes Court found the men guilty, but instead of prison time, they were given:
2 years and 9 months of restricted freedom for Agayev,
2 years and 2 months for Anar,
1 year and 8 months for Vusal.
All three were freed immediately from the courtroom.
The decision has triggered sharp public backlash and condemnation from women’s rights activists and legal experts, who argue that the sentencing sends a dangerous message in a country where violence against women and forced marriage remain under-addressed.
“This was a premeditated, violent act involving the use of force, and yet none of the perpetrators will spend a single day in prison,” said one women’s rights advocate in Baku. “What kind of message does this send to victims? That their lives, dignity, and consent don’t matter?”
Broader Systemic Failures
Critics say the case reflects broader systemic failures in protecting women from gender-based violence in Azerbaijan. Despite reforms, laws remain lenient on perpetrators of domestic abuse and coercion. In many rural regions, customary practices continue to overshadow legal protections, especially in cases of forced or arranged marriages.
Moreover, the court’s decision to classify the punishment as “restriction of freedom” — a sentence often involving electronic monitoring rather than incarceration — raises concerns about the seriousness with which such crimes are treated.
“When violent abduction is punished with a wristband and not a cell, it’s not justice — it’s complicity,” commented a legal scholar familiar with the case.
A Call for Legal Reform
Activists are now calling for tougher penalties, clearer legal definitions of coercion, and a nationwide awareness campaign against forced marriage and abduction. They argue that the current legal framework does little to deter repeat offenders or protect vulnerable women.
As the case gains attention on social media, pressure is mounting on the government and judiciary to reevaluate the effectiveness of existing protections and take a firmer stance on gender-based crimes.
