4 ms·

> "if you can call the police or get the authorities to intervene... then it's not slavery" there are parts of the US where it's very difficult to get the poli

> "if you can call the police or get the authorities to intervene... then it's not slavery" there are parts of the US where it's very difficult to get the police to intervene. I work (indirectly) with a group that helps women and children escape from forced polygamy in groups like the FLDS, AUB, Kingston, and similar; in quite a few areas the local police are "true believers" who won't investigate members of their own group, and in fact who will work to bring escapees back to a situation that is fairly described as "slavery".

differentView 11y ago
Does the FBI also ignore these cases when reported?
- mschuster91 11y ago
  The problem is that embassies usually are protected spaces where the host country police cannot intervene, the embassy personnel is under diplomatic immunity and the "worst" punishment the host country can deliver is declaring the offender a "persona non grata", but this is a diplomatic affront of the highest severity itself. No one risks international relationships for a child or a woman. edit, as I see some downvoting: that last sentence was not meant like I'd support that system. It's just a description how the world works.
  - nl 11y ago
    I think you are being downvoted because the parent comment was about the situation in the US, and asking if the FBI ignores it. Your comment about embassies doesn't make a lot of sense in that context.
  - gokhan 11y ago
    The question was about forced polygamy groups, not South Africa.
  - Natsu 11y ago
    There was such a case with an Indian woman who was a diplomat, actually. It didn't go over well, politically. http://world.time.com/2013/12/17/indian-diplomats-arrest-in-new-york-sparks-row-with-u-s/ http://world.time.com/2013/12/17/indian-diplomats-arrest-in-...
- lotharbot 11y ago
  it's difficult to get the FBI involved. They tend to take on only the most extreme cases.
bilbo0s 11y ago
I HATE those guys. (Forced polygamy groups.) So keep up the good work. Only point I wanted to make is that you still have the option of calling in the Feds. There are no Feds in certain places. Or the "Feds" are weak or corrupt. Maybe even both if you are unlucky enough. I'm talking about being in a situation where there is no way out not only for the abused... but even for those who might want to help. There is LITERALLY... no legal recourse. In your work... you have legal avenues outside of the local police. That's my point.
- lotharbot 11y ago
  > "you still have the option of calling in the Feds" sometimes it even works. We might be able to help a tiny fraction find their way out of slavery. That doesn't make it any less slavery.

differentView 11y ago

Does the FBI also ignore these cases when reported?

mschuster91 11y ago
The problem is that embassies usually are protected spaces where the host country police cannot intervene, the embassy personnel is under diplomatic immunity and the "worst" punishment the host country can deliver is declaring the offender a "persona non grata", but this is a diplomatic affront of the highest severity itself. No one risks international relationships for a child or a woman. edit, as I see some downvoting: that last sentence was not meant like I'd support that system. It's just a description how the world works.
- nl 11y ago
  I think you are being downvoted because the parent comment was about the situation in the US, and asking if the FBI ignores it. Your comment about embassies doesn't make a lot of sense in that context.
- gokhan 11y ago
  The question was about forced polygamy groups, not South Africa.
- Natsu 11y ago
  There was such a case with an Indian woman who was a diplomat, actually. It didn't go over well, politically. http://world.time.com/2013/12/17/indian-diplomats-arrest-in-new-york-sparks-row-with-u-s/ http://world.time.com/2013/12/17/indian-diplomats-arrest-in-...
lotharbot 11y ago
it's difficult to get the FBI involved. They tend to take on only the most extreme cases.

bilbo0s 11y ago

I HATE those guys. (Forced polygamy groups.) So keep up the good work. Only point I wanted to make is that you still have the option of calling in the Feds. There are no Feds in certain places. Or the "Feds" are weak or corrupt. Maybe even both if you are unlucky enough. I'm talking about being in a situation where there is no way out not only for the abused... but even for those who might want to help. There is LITERALLY... no legal recourse. In your work... you have legal avenues outside of the local police. That's my point.

lotharbot 11y ago
> "you still have the option of calling in the Feds" sometimes it even works. We might be able to help a tiny fraction find their way out of slavery. That doesn't make it any less slavery.