19 year old Cholpon holds her three month old daughter. In June 2012, just few months after she turned 18, Cholpon was kidnapped by a man named Aman who she had never met and only seen twice before. He wanted to force her into marriage. Initially refused but finally accepted because, she says: 'it would be shameful to return home after I entered a man's home.' Although illegal, bride kidnapping is common in rural parts of Kyrgyzstan. Each year around 16,000 women become married after being kidnapped. They are known as 'Ala Kachuu' that translates as 'to grab and run away'. Defenders of the continuation of the practice sight tradition. However, during Soviet Times it was rare, and parents generally arranged marriages.