Young Gujaratis are using marriage disputes as grounds for asylum claims abroad (AI-generated image used for representational purposes)
In November 2025, a woman from Gandhinagar was granted protection in UK after she told the authorities that returning to India would expose her to pressure to marry against her wishes. The woman, now around 30, had initially travelled to Europe on a student visa before entering the UK.
Claims centred on forced marriage, family violence, threats over inter-caste relationships and opposition to same-sex relationships are being raised before immigration authorities in countries including the UK, Canada and New Zealand, sources told TOI. A source familiar with an illegal immigration network said some immigrants were being advised to convert family disputes into evidence of persecution. There are genuine cases too, particularly where parents force their children into marriages against their wishes, especially in inter-caste and inter-religious relationships,” the source said.
AHMEDABAD: For young Gujaratis who leave India after family conflicts over relationships, marriage is emerging as an unexpected factor in their asylum narratives abroad. “I have come across many such couples who indulged in fake fights in India, got an FIR registered against their parents and then used it as supporting evidence for an asylum claim in a foreign country. The source claimed that the alleged tactic was not limited to India. “In some cases, people indulge in a fake scuffle and fight in US to get a U-visa, though they can themselves face criminal action. UK guidance recognises forced marriage and domestic violence as matters that may require a protection assessment. Decision-makers are required to consider whether the claimant would face a real risk of serious harm if returned and whether effective state protection is available; an unhappy relationship or family disagreement alone is insufficient to meet that threshold.
Because the alleged harm usually occurs within the private sphere and documentary evidence is limited, uK guidance notes that claims involving forced marriage and honour-based violence are difficult to substantiate,. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Ahmedabad | Silver Rate in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Petrol Price in Ahmedabad | Diesel Price in Ahmedabad | CNG Price in Ahmedabad | LPG Price in Ahmedabad Stay updated with the latest Ahmedabad news. She became involved with a Gujarati man who was allegedly overstaying in the country, but the relationship ended and she filed the protection claim. Canadian rules require claimants to establish persecution or serious risk and state that asylum is not an alternative route to immigration. Authorities also warn that false information can lead to refusal and other immigration consequences. Download the TOI App.
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