“All I want is a room somewhere, far away from the cold night air – with one enormous chair, oh, wouldn't it be lov-er-ly?” In My Fair Lady, Eliza Doolittle is a young woman who sells flowers on the dirty streets of early 20^th century London to make a few pennies each day. Her face is smudged with dirt and her manners are uncultured, but she longs for a better life. She goes on in her song to wish for food to eat and warmth from the cold, time to rest, and someone to love and take care of her.

Many people in Central Asia are at risk because they lack one or more of these basic things. Some are at risk from society's traditions; others are at risk from nature, and still others from exploitation.

Risk from Traditions

Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan

“Let me go!” Gulmira* screamed, trying in vain to tear herself away from her captor's vise-like grip. “I don't want to marry you. I don't even know you!” she sobbed in desperation.

Gulmira had been invited to her fiancé's parents' home to meet his family and friends. After a party to introduce her to his buddies, she had gone to bed, looking forward to a peaceful night's sleep. A rough hand over her mouth rudely awakened her. Strong arms forced her to move quickly out of the house. She tried to resist, but to no avail. She begged the young man, one of her fiancé's friends, to let her return to the man she loved, but he turned a deaf ear to her pleading.

After traveling for many hours, they reached her captor's home. His female relatives took her to the back room and forced the jooluk, or marriage scarf, on her head. She had no means of escape. To further discourage her, an older aunt lay down at the threshold of the home with a loaf of bread on her chest, warning that if Gulmira ever tried to cross over the threshold and escape, her life would be forever cursed.

Gulmira knew that if she did escape and somehow find her way back to her parents' home, they would not welcome her. In the Kyrgyz language, the worst word used to defame or curse someone is the word that means “one who is stolen and returns.” If a kidnapped bride returns home, she brings disgrace on her family, and is a financial burden to them the rest of her life, as no one will marry her.

Kyrgyzstan's practice of bride kidnapping is one that puts many young women at risk. Estimates show that “35-45 percent of married ethnic Kyrgyz women are married against their will as a result of bride-kidnapping.”[i] The problem is much more prevalent in villages than in the larger cities, but the Kyrgyz pastor who shared Gulmira's story said that even though his church is in a big city, they still have to be very careful. When they take evangelistic teams into the villages, they have to keep a close watch on the young women with them, so that no one kidnaps them.[ii]

Risk from Nature

Tajikistan

“Wake up, children, hurry! It's starting to rain again. We must get up to higher ground!” The frantic mother rushed her sleepy children higher up the steep, shadowy mountainside to a neighbour's home.

In order to understand this scene, we must first look at the ruggedly beautiful country of Tajikistan. For this 90 percent mountainous country, natural disasters such as flash floods, mudslides, avalanches and earthquakes are a constant threat. A Christian worker there was intrigued by the odd occurrence referred to above. It took place in a mountain village. Each time it rained, day or night, the families living in the lowest part of the valley would quickly leave their homes and hurry to neighbours’ places on higher ground.

“Why do you do this?” he asked one of the families.

“Because the next heavy rain storm may cause a flash flood that will sweep all these lower houses away.”

“Why don't you just build a new home on higher ground?”

“The reason is,” came the sad reply, “we have no money for building materials, and no one cares enough to help another family build. We cannot build a house with no resources and no help.”[iii]