Since Kyrgyzstan gained its Independence in 1991, there has been a revival of the ancient practice of „Ala-Kachuu“ (“grab and run”). It stands for men kidnapping women in order to make them their wife. More than half the Kyrgyz women marry the men they were kidnapped by. Some escape after violent ordeals, but most are persuaded to stay by tradition and fear of scandal. The practice is said to stem from nomadic customs and is at odds with modern Kyrgyzstan. Under the kyrgyz criminal code, Ala-Kachuu is illegal. But the law has rarely been enforced to protect women from this violent practice.