"This must have no place in Europe"

On Tuesday, 11 March, Assita Kanko MEP, Chair of the Conservative Women Working Group and ECR Coordinator in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), hosted a high-level roundtable and breakfast in Strasbourg on the growing issue of marital captivity and forced marriage in Europe.

The event brought together politicians, human rights activists and witnesses to highlight the plight of women trapped in marriages concluded under religious law—often sharia—from which they cannot escape. Speakers included lead figures such as European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, European Parliament Vice-President and ECR MEP Antonella Sberna, LIBE Committee Chair Javier Zarzalejos, Founder of Femmes for Freedom Shirin Musa as well as victims of marital captivity.

Assita Kanko underlined the gravity of the issue:

“Marital captivity is a harsh reality for too many women in Europe. Women, despite living in democratic countries that uphold gender equality and human rights, find themselves trapped in unwanted and abusive marriages and can never leave.

“It is a human rights violation, deeply connected to the rise of parallel societies and parallel justice systems that undermine the very foundation of our democracy and the rule of law. Women under marital captivity are too often caught between these two legal walls, one that recognises their rights and one that denies them. No one should have to fight for a just legal system.”

Michael McGrath, European Commissioner, strongly condemned the practice:

“Marital captivity is an extremely serious violation of fundamental rights, especially the right of women and girls to physical integrity, freedom and body autonomy. It’s also a form of violence with severe social and economic implications. The Commission is fully committed to eradicating these horrible practices. We have to make sure that we don’t fail any young girls or women in the future.”

Antonella Sberna, Vice-President of the European Parliament, emphasised the need for action:

“Being faithful to one’s roots does not mean refusing change, but rather finding a dialogue between identity and freedom. We need concrete actions to shield every woman or girl in Europe.”

Javier Zarzalejos, Chair of the LIBE Committee, echoed these calls:

“Marital captivity denies women freedom, autonomy, and dignity, trapping them in cycles of abuse with no legal recourse. This is not just a problem outside Europe — it happens here, within our borders. Let us work together to build a Europe where no woman is trapped into a marriage against her will.”

During the meeting, participants listened to harrowing testimonies from survivors of marital captivity. Nadia, a victim, said:

“For 18 years I lived in captivity in Kandahar. I am still sad and angry. Why did no one ask about me?”

Yasmine, another survivor, shared:

“Before you stands a cheerful woman, but behind my smiles hides a lot of pain. I was 18 when I got married. My parents told me that we were going on holiday to Pakistan and I was forced into a marriage with a cousin. I did not want to get married yet. I wanted to return to the Netherlands where I had a job. Instead, I was locked up for 6 months, beaten and raped every day.”

Adding to these testimonies, Shirin Musa, founder of Femmes for Freedom, highlighted the lack of adequate protection for victims:

“Women who are victims of marital captivity don’t have enough protection. This is about human rights, children’s rights, dignity — nothing else. If you take these matters seriously, you give real meaning to words like inclusion and diversity.”

Concluding the discussion, Kanko addressed the survivors directly:

“You are survivors and you never accepted to be victims. You stood up for yourself. And by doing so you stand up for other women as well, and for our justice system. We must ensure that no woman is left alone to fight for her rights.”

The roundtable called for coordinated EU and national actions to address marital captivity, including stronger legal frameworks, better support for victims, and greater awareness among policymakers and the public.