Your rights
- In Islam both people must consent to a marriage. The Prophet ﷺ said that a previously married woman should not be married until she is consulted, nor a virgin until her permission is sought (Sahih al-Bukhari 5136). When Khansa bint Khidham was married against her wishes, he annulled the marriage (Sahih al-Bukhari 5138).
- In the UK forcing someone to marry is a crime, and since 27 February 2023 it is an offence in England and Wales to cause anyone under 18 to marry — even in a religious ceremony that is not legally binding.
- In Bangladesh the minimum age of marriage is 18 for women and 21 for men (Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017), and demanding dowry is a crime (Dowry Prohibition Act 2018).
- Forced marriage happens to men too. In 2025, 26% of the people the UK’s Forced Marriage Unit helped were male, and Bangladesh was the second most common country involved.
Before you travel
- If you fear a family trip is really for a marriage, ask for help before you go — it is much harder to get help abroad.
- Tell someone you trust where you are going, when you are due back, and what to do if you do not return.
- Keep a copy of your passport and the embassy’s address with you; if you can, keep a second phone or some money hidden.
- If you are British, the Forced Marriage Unit can help even while you are abroad.
On KobulKabin
- In the app choose Report → Pressured into marriage. It goes in confidence to a trained member of our team, and you immediately see the help available in your country.
- Your guardian and family are never told, and nothing is shown to the other side.
- You can pause your profile or delete your account whenever you want.
Confidential help now
These organisations specialise in forced marriage. Every number and address was checked against the organisation’s own or an official page. The full list for each country is on get help now.