Tajik Groom Sues Bride Over Virginity, Exposes Local Traditions
Tajik Man Sues Bride Over Virginity Dispute
Suhrob, a 30-year-old man from Dushanbe, worked tirelessly on construction sites in Russia to save up money for his dream wedding in Tajikistan. However, just weeks after the extravagant ceremony, Suhrob took his 22-year-old bride to court, alleging that she was not a virgin when they got married. He demanded reimbursement of the 50,000 somoni ($5,000) he spent on the wedding and dowry.
The bride and her family denied the accusation and counter-sued Suhrob for defamation. They won $1,000 in compensation for moral damages according to court documents obtained by RFE/RL from the Rudaki district court. Suhrob has appealed the ruling.
In conservative, Muslim-majority Tajikistan, premarital sex is considered unacceptable. Women face a lifetime of shame if they are accused of not being a virgin on their wedding night. This dispute is not an isolated incident and has led to many scandals and court cases in the country in recent years.
In a tragic case from 2017, an 18-year-old bride, Rajabbi Khurshed, took her own life after her new husband accused her of not being a virgin on their wedding night. Despite medical examinations proving her chastity, the groom’s claims led to her untimely death.
Virginity tests are common in Tajikistan, with some women opting for the test to prevent any scandal on their wedding night. However, the cultural pressure to prove virginity has led to desperate measures such as hymenoplasty, a surgical procedure to reconstruct the hymen.
Rights activists have condemned the practice of enforcing virginity tests on women preparing for marriage, calling it discriminatory. The United Nations has also called for a global ban on virginity tests, citing violations of women’s rights.
The culture of demanding virginity from women before marriage is deeply ingrained in Tajik society, but some are calling for a reevaluation of these customs. As debates continue, the plight of women caught in the crosshairs of virginity disputes remains a pressing issue in Tajikistan.
Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Tajik Service and RFE/RL’s Russian Unit on Central Asia.
