Court supports forced marriage GP

Dr Abedin is seeking an annulment in the UK

An NHS doctor who claimed she was forced into a marriage in Bangladesh cannot be removed from the UK against her will, the High Court has ruled.

Dr Humayra Abedin, 33, from east London, was allegedly tricked by her parents, held captive for four months and made to marry a man in November.

The High Court has ruled that she cannot be removed again from the UK without her consent.

Dr Abedin is attempting to have the marriage annulled by the court.

Mr Justice Coleridge said: "I shall grant further orders to protect Dr Abedin and prevent her being removed from this country again without her consent."

You can understand that being held captive and against the will, it's not very easy Dr Humayra Abedin

Outside court Dr Abedin said: "I'm very happy to be back, but I'd like to get back to my life.

"I'm looking forward to starting my job."

She said the past few weeks had been "very difficult".

"You can understand that being held captive and against the will, it's not very easy."

Her solicitor Anne-Marie Hutchinson said the case was very important.

She said: "The profile it's received means that other people will feel that they can come forward and seek the relief, that as Mr Justice Coleridge said, they're entitled to."

Miss Hutchinson added: "He's emphasised what's been said before, that forced marriage is a breach of human rights, and where it happens this court will deal with it if cases come before it.

"I don't think it is a cultural issue, it's a human rights issue."

'Under duress'

In a statement issued after her return to London on Tuesday, Dr Abedin said: "On 14 November 2008, I was forced to marry a person of my parents' choice.

"I was removed to another province of Bangladesh. I entered into the marriage ceremony under duress. I did not consent to the marriage."

Dr Abedin returned to the UK as a result of a British court order made under the Forced Marriage Act.

The High Court in London issued the order while she was still in Bangladesh under new legislation which allows British courts to prevent someone from being forced into marriage.

Dr Abedin came to the UK six years ago to study for a Masters degree in public health at Leeds University.

She had hoped to become a registrar at a GP surgery in east London in August but, after receiving news her mother had taken ill, returned to the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, where she was then allegedly held captive.

While in captivity, Dr Abedin raised the alarm by sending an email to a friend in the UK asking for help.