AZE.US
A 17-year-old girl in Azerbaijan fled her family home and sought refuge at a shelter after her parents allegedly attempted to force her into an underage marriage.
According to Xəzər Xəbər, the wedding was scheduled for Sept. 20.
The girl escaped while her parents were away shopping for her dowry, took a taxi and asked the driver to bring her to a shelter operated by the Azerbaijan Children Union.
The girl had contacted the organization’s hotline two days earlier. Staff advised her to seek assistance from local authorities and law enforcement.
The head of the Azerbaijan Children Union said the girl had been promised in marriage at age 14 to a man who is now approximately 25 or 26.
She reportedly told her parents more than once that she did not consent to the marriage, but her objections were ignored.
The family had also removed her from school after the sixth grade, preventing her from continuing her education.
Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry said the relevant territorial police department is investigating the case.
AZE.US