An NHS doctor freed by the courts after being held captive by her family in Bangladesh will arrive in Britain today.
Dr Humayra Abedin, 33, from East London, was being held by her parents against her will in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka and put under pressure to marry.
Her lawyer in the UK, Anne-Marie Hutchinson, confirmed that she had boarded a non-direct flight from Dhaka last night although its departure was delayed.
“She is on her way home. Unfortunately her flight was delayed, which has caused her a little bit more anxiety, but she has now left Dhaka,” she said.
“She’s fine, but obviously exhausted and was anxious to leave before people changed their mind.”
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 Dhaka where she was then held captive.
Judge Syed Mahmud Hossain had refused to reveal the testimony of Dr Abedin because the closed-door hearing contained some “objectionable elements”. However, he branded the parents’ actions “not acceptable”.
He said: “She requested the court not to put her parents in trouble because of what they did to her. But I am saying what you (the parents) have done to her is not acceptable. If there’s any further problem you will be in big trouble.”
Ms Hutchinson said: “My understanding was her parents, even if they did not wish to force her into marriage, were not to give her a choice in the matter.”
While in captivity, Dr Abedin raised the alarm when she sent an e-mail to a friend requesting help.
The High Court in London issued an order on December 5 under Britain’s new Forced Marriage Act - the legislation allows British courts to prevent someone from being forced into marriage.
Dr Abedin herself told Sky News yesterday: “I’m relieved that I’m free, I’m happy. I just want to say thank you to all those who supported and helped me. I’m fine and I’m feeling happy.
“I don’t have any bad feelings towards them, they are my parents so I don’t have any bad feelings.”