The Washington Post runs this piece from the AP’s Gulf correspondent, Donna Abu-Nasr, also a reporter who’s on top of things in the KSA.
She provides a look at where the case of ‘Fatima’ forceably divorced from her husband because her brothers felt he was of too low a tribal origin now stands. For those following the case, there’s nothing new. For those first coming upon it, it does a good job summarizing the issues. Always a useful reminder that, while some things might be getting better for Saudi women [See posts below], other, fundamental barriers remain.
Forced Annulment Keeps Couple Apart
Donna Abu-NasrRIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Two years ago, a knock on Fatima and Mansour al-Timani’s door shattered the life they had built together.
It was the police, delivering news that a judge had annulled their marriage in absentia after some of Fatima’s relatives sought the divorce on grounds she had married beneath her.
That was just the beginning of an ordeal for a couple who _ under Saudi Arabia’s strict segregation rules _ can no longer live together. They sued to reverse the ruling, publicized their story and sought help from a Saudi human rights group.
But the two remain apart and Fatima said she is considering suicide if her recent appeal to King Abdullah does not reunite her with her husband.
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January:21:2008 - 13:36
Faithful …To her Husband
Adorable…To her Family Despite all Odds
Terrified… By those who are tormenting her
Imagine…The unimaginable…someone forcibly breaking your family
Maintain…Strength and Belief…God will Deliver & Save You
Always… Keep your head high…You are Right and it will Prevail!
Man
Accused…but guilty of no crime
Not withstanding the discrimination
Sour must be the taste in your mouth
Outrage must be your declaration of the day
Usurped of all dignity and your manliness
Revenge is your right…Although your have allowed your Agony to rip you deep
My wish goes out to Mansour and into the depths of the universe:
1. Get Your Strength Back and Put the MAN back into your Name
2. Nations of people supporting you. Take Action!
January:21:2008 - 14:00
Sparky:
That is awesome. When you get your driver’s license, perhaps you should contemplate helping them in a jail-break. I am not even joking. It is truly painful what this couple is being put through.
At the risk of being called prejudiced, between text-message divorces and forced annulments, I just don’t see how KSA can in any way claim to be upholding family values.
January:21:2008 - 18:54
What I don’t understand is that our government (US) supports this country that is basically a terrorist supporting country that oppresses women throws them in jail for marring the person they love that condones kidnapping American children from their homes and forces them to marry Saudi men while our government does absolutely nothing about it this is a country that 19 out of 20 of the 9/11 hijackers were citizens of we let this country walk all over us all the time yet we spend BILLOINS of our tax dollars to invade a country that posed NO THREAT to the US now I hear you saying Sadam was a terrible dictator and your right he was but there are a lot of them in the world and we don’t go around over throwing them we walked over that country (IRAQ) with little more than 3 army divisions in about 3 weeks or so that has NEVER been done in the history of war we were able to do it because there military was so inept that it could do nothing to stop us having that in mind you can’t tell me that they posed a threat to our way of life I wish the people of my country would use their brains instead of believing everything they see on TV and make our government actually do what is in this country’s best interest for once. Everyone in the US should be pissed off about this unfortunatly I think we as a country are so numb that we will just belive anything our government tells us. And no I am not a nut that believes our government is evil and or the moon landing was faked or whatever I belive that our government leaders have just made one blunder after another and should have all been fired a long time ago. Lets face it if you constantly scewed up and lied about your reasons for doing things to your boss at work do you think you would keep your job long?
January:21:2008 - 21:06
There a a few things inaccurate in your comment.
First, the USG does not see Saudi Arabia as the source of all terror. It does realize that the KSA has a problem, but that it is actively trying to fix it.
When it comes to terrorist financing, for instance, it’s strongly suspected that there are Saudis involved. But the US Treasury holds that the Saudi anti-terrorism funding program is a model for the region.
Saudi Arabia is going through an incredible period of change. No longer able to isolate itself from the outside world, it is having to make rapid changes. Change is never easy. It’s particularly hard when dealing with a society that is ultra-conservative; confuses its culture with its religion; is still trying to shift modes from patron/client to individual responsibility. It’s very messy and it’s very unfortunate for those caught in the wringer.
Because real efforts are being made toward political reform, the USG is not coming down with both heels every time the Saudis screw things up. It–as well as many other Western countries–keep pressure on, but do not expect change to happen overnight, or tidily.