Over 40% of children in Van subjected to forced marriage

Research into forced child marriage has been published by the former President of a State Pathology Laboratory, Professor Dr. O?uz Polat and Van Yüzüncü Y?l University Department of Sociology Research Assistant Sabahat Ölçer. According to this study, which reveals striking stories, 41.9% of children in Van are subjected to forced marriage.

Prof. Dr. O?uz Polat and his colleagues and Van Yüzüncü Y?l University Department of Sociology Research Assistant Sabahat Ölçer and facculty member Begüm Kocamaz carried out a study into forced marriage of minors in various neighbourhoods of Van. It is reported in one newspaper that the stories recorded during the 2-month study will be published in the form of a book.

‘I cried constantly’

The names of women who had been forcibly married at a young age were kept confidential. One said: “I grew up in a village. I married a relative. My mother-in-law was my paternal aunt. I met my husband while staying with my grandmother. My husband was 10 years older than me. I got bored staying with my grandmother and missed my family. After three years they took me back to my mother. Then on the first day of the religious holiday my aunt visited. I was young and I was playing outside. The next day she came back with others and asked for my hand in marriage. My family agreed and the engagement was concluded there and then. After that I cried constantly.”