As International Women's Day 2007 wound down, 1,729 people had taken action and contacted the Attorney General, requesting that the U.S. Supreme Court uphold a Court of Appeals ruling allowing asylum for “Li,” a young woman who fled China after her parents paid off their debts by selling her to an abusive man.
Unfortunately, on March 16th, the U.S. Government asked the Supreme Court to reverse the Second Circuit’s decision. However, the outpouring of voices speaking up for Li shows increasing public support for forced marriage as a valid basis for asylum.