Posted on 11/25/2005 8:30:28 PM PST by Uncle Miltie
JEDDAH (SG) SAUDI authorities are investigating about 500 cases of family violence. They are also planning to construct a hostel for women exposed to family violence.
Disclosing this Dr. Suhaila Zain Al-Abdeen, Head of the Consultation and Studies Committee and member of the Family and Child Committee at the Human Rights Association, told Al-Watan Arabic language daily newspaper that almost 50% of these cases were filed in Makkah Region. This shows that family violence is more common in the region compared to other parts of the Kingdom.
She called for a review of the existing laws which give absolute rights to men. Some of the men exploit and misuse this power. Cases have been reported where men grab salaries and deprive women of their shares in inheritance.
She urged that age for custody of a girl and a boy should be raised till a boy reaches adolescence age and girl gets married. She based her argument on the fact that the Holy Qur an defines the age of custody for boys as seven years and girls as nine years.
She said the association is in the process of releasing its report on the situation of the human rights in the Kingdom besides its recommendation on incriminating acts of family violence and punishment for wrongdoers in accordance with the Sharia.
She said family violence is spreading in the Kingdom and in the Gulf societies.
In May this year, the Kingdom did a first-ever study on domestic violence. The figures were alarming. It said that about 90% of women had seen their mothers being abused. The study was a result of a high-flying case of TV presenter Rania Al-Baz who was brutally assaulted by her husband and dropped before a hospital for dead last year.
The case of Rania, whose husband was sentenced to six months in prison and 300 lashes, prompted the research by Prof Salwa Al-Khateeb, of the King Saud University in Riyadh.
Manal Al-Somali, a social worker from the King Fahd Hospital s psychiatric clinic, told a newspaper that the last thing women think about is themselves, which is why by the time they come here they are suffering from depression. The clinic sees around three cases a week of women with depression who have suffered years of abuse.
Well, it's about GD time...
.
The BUSH Doctrine:
Free the Women of the Middle East
.
If it is that bad in Sauda Arabia, imagine what a hell hole Iraq must have been for women. I must have missed the announcement of support for the war from NOW. They must have made a very loud one, probably a number of them.
What a tragic story. Why doesn't the lamestream media publish this?
Are there any links. I tried Googling, but cannot come up with a link. I'd like to mention this at some other sites.
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/sgazette/Data/2005/11/26/Art_288872.XML
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