Cousin Marriage and What to Do

Submitted by Straight_Talk_Luigi (United States), Aug 19, 2008 at 17:56

Hi there!

Sorry to hear about this forced marriage.

First of all, NO and I mean NO government will EVER risk damaging international relations over a relationship. That is why you have foreign women stranded on the Arabian peninsula and are not able to leave. People who believe that they can do whatever they want and have the government or the US embassy come a white horse to their rescue are seriously deluding themselves.

Now, I am not saying trying to ridicule your son's noble efforts, here, Katherine, but I studied international relations in college I've worked for the UN before. I don't what you mean that she is almost an American, but whenever our citizens travel abroad, we are bound by the laws of the host country, whether we like them or not.

By contrast, foreigners have come to this country, committed felonies like murder and have been executed under American law.

What I would do is call the the State Department. The State Department has an office that deals specifically with Pakistan. I won't be able to post the number on here, but it is on the internet. If she is a Pakistani citizen, there may not be much you can do. If she is an American citizen, and this is against her will, it could be considered international abduction. You can call the Main Switchboard and have them direct you to the office for Pakistan.

I would also call your representatives in Congress and see if there is something they can do.

E-mailing the President won't do you any good, I'm afraid. I've called the White House on several issues and I've received a letter once from a secretary, and that's it.

I will remember her in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that you can find some way out of this.

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