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And her only crime is, thanks to the divorce, not having a legal male guardian, and being also unwilling to return to the "custody" of her family. Sharia Alert. "Sixth Month in Prison for Fatima and Child," by Ebtihal Mubarak for Arab News:
JEDDAH, 20 December 2006 — Fatima, the 34-year-old woman who was divorced in absentia against her will from her husband by a judge at the request of her half-brothers, has entered her sixth month of incarceration at a prison in Dammam. The husband, Mansour Al -Timani, 37, says prison officials have impeded his ability to communicate with the woman that he still considers his wife.
In October, prison officials insisted that Mansour take custody of the older of the two children, two-year-old Noha. She was allowed to keep her 11-month-old son, Salman, in prison with her.
“Since that time the connection between me and (Fatima) by telephone has totally been cut off,” said Mansour.
The official that answered the phone at the prison, who would not provide his name, said that since the two are officially divorced, Mansour no longer has the right to call by telephone. “Communicating with prisoners has certain channels and procedures,” said the voice on the other end of the line.
Mansour said he is allowed 15 minutes with his wife when he visits in person on Saturdays so that the children — one with the mother in prison and the other with the father outside — can spend time with both parents.
Fatima in fact has the freedom to return to the custody of her family (women of any age are legally required to have a mahram, or male guardian) but she has refused saying she would only walk out of prison into the arms of the man she still considers her husband.
On July 20, 2005, Justice Ibrahim Al-Farraj divorced the couple in their absence in the northern city of Al-Jouf at the request of two of Fatima’s half-brothers. They claim that Mansour hid his tribal affiliation when he sought permission from the now-deceased father to marry the woman, a charge Mansour denies and is irrelevant because under Shariah, tribal affiliation is not a consideration for a legitimate marriage.
But also under Sharia, the half-brothers' word is worth more in court than Fatima's simply by their being men, and on their testimony, she sits in jail due to the mahram requirement.
The couple were not only divorced in absentia after nearly three years of marriage, but were not informed immediately of the decision. They were arrested later in Jeddah (where they had fled after learning of the ruling, hoping to find help from an official here). Mansour was later released, but Fatima refused to return to the custody of her family and therefore languishes in prison.
Meanwhile, Justice Al-Farraj hasn’t been seen at his court since early November. The Ministry of Justice would not comment on whether the judge is under suspension or being investigated for his ruling that has angered the public — the court’s decision was even ridiculed in the popular television comedy serial “Tash.”
Fatima’s lawyer, Abdul Rahman Al-Lahem, said his appeal against the divorce ruling, submitted Oct. 7, is still pending.
[...]
Until the next step in a judicial process that has taken over a year is made, the husband and wife have nothing to do but wait: She in prison and he outside.
Posted by Marisol at December 20, 2006 12:34 AM
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The saudis would be he laughing stocks of the world if they were not so rich.
Posted by: wallyUK![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 20, 2006 1:31 AM
Since this story appeared in July, the Arab News has been running regular updates. Most of the Saudis ARE pretty upset about this. They are upset for two reasons. They look like idiots, and they are embarrassed that the rest of the world has heard about this.
Most of us Western ex-pats are grimly amused. Our usual comment applies: "Hey, they are Muslims, believers in the Religion of Peace and Tolerance and Respect Toward Women. What did you expect?"
Reading between the lines, here is what I think happened - the woman's father approved of the marriage. If he hadn't, the marriage would not have happened.
Here is the reading between the lines part. About two years later, Fatima's father died (I'm guessing - not mentioned in news). Two of her half-brothers saw an opportunity to regain control of her inheritance. They bribed a judge for the ruling.
Notice that she chose to stay in prison instead of returning home to her brothers. This kind of greed and treatment of sisters and even mothers, particularly when an inheritance is involved, is not uncommon in Saudi families.
Notice also that a more senior government official has not overruled the idiot judge.
Posted by: jay at December 20, 2006 2:39 AM
the judgesharia court judge that ruled that this man and a woman are divorced along with her brother's should be hourse wiped, the idea that a married woman can be divorced because her half brother's do not like the tribe that her husband is from, it just shows how sick Saudi Arabia society is since they agree women and children like they are property right now because of there very conservative parochial tribal society this man and wife need to go to the Canadian Embassy with their children and ask for refugee status unfortunately given how the US State Department is at brown nosing in Saudi Arabia and the USA they probably would be turned over to the Saudi government. Unfortunately our State Department that is supposed to be looking out for citizens interests and helping refugees seems far more interested in sucking up to countries like Saudi Arabia because when they leave the State Department they know if they haven't done a good job for us but have done a good job for the Arabs they will be allowed be feed at the hog throph that the Saudi Arabians keep for there loyal dhimmi but if they make waves they will get starved
Posted by: islamakapigeaters at December 20, 2006 4:49 AM
... women of any age are legally required to have a mahram, or male guardian.
This makes me recall that audience of women on the set of The View who cheered so when Rosie pronounced Christianity as more evil than Islam.
Such is the bounty of our failed education system. Pious ignoramuses.
Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at December 20, 2006 5:47 AM
Islam and Sharia law are dysfunctional entities, to willingly want to follow these simply proves you have solid oak between the ears.Yet despite the increasing proof that both degrade women to the point of being a non human, we see Muslim women (i.e. our occassional poster from Pakistan, Naseem)claim otherwise.
Islam is mind control, total submission, and total fear. Islam controls your every action. This divorce story is not an isolated incident. I recall a story recently where a couple married for 40 years were forced to divorce by the Sharia courts.
Under Islamic law a man has no problem in getting a divorce.
"Pronouncing talaq" is all a Muslim husband need do to divorce his wife. If he says "Talaq" to her, she is divorced.
It is much more difficult for a woman to get a divorce. For an example:
MULTAN, Pakistan - A Pakistani man cut off the nose and lips of his 19-year-old sister-in-law after she went to court for a divorce in a tribal area of the central province of Punjab, police said on Thursday.
OR women choosing suicide over marriage.
HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Nineteen-year-old Zahara says the day of her wedding was one of the happiest of her life.
But the marriage quickly became a nightmare of quarrels and beatings. Just three month later, she lies in hospital, her pretty face and much of her body scarred by horrific burns, after she poured petrol over her head and lit a match.
In post-Taliban Afghanistan, despite a new constitution enshrining women's rights that the Western-backed government passed in January, this remains a depressingly familiar story.
Zahara is one of many women to attempt a fiery suicide rather than be trapped in an unhappy marriage or denied the opportunity to make something of their lives.
and
Domestic violence is widespread, but most cases never go to court. The laws are weak, and women stay silent out of fear or shame: Divorce disgraces the family and the tribe. Each year, scores of Afghan women escape bad marriages by setting themselves on fire or other forms of suicide
and even if the wife wins, she loses as reported:
Battered Saudi wife divorced
Rania Al-Baz update, from the Gulf Daily News, with thanks to Twostellas, who notes that this is "another article that shows the terrible, biased laws of Islam. This woman had to pardon her husband who almost killed her in order to get custody of her children. And furthermore, it seems as if she was not able to divorce him, he had to divorce her."
Newspapers said Rania Al Baz suffered 13 facial fractures after her husband Mohammed Al Fallatta repeatedly slammed her head against the floor during a domestic dispute. The papers published pictures of her battered face in April.
"The judge ordered him to divorce me," Baz was quoted as saying.
"Except in extreme cases, judges prefer to hear the husband say that he divorces the wife rather than for judges to grant the divorce," she added.
Fallatta served half of a six-month jail sentence and was released after Baz pardoned him and dropped claims for compensation in return for custody of their two children.
Posted by Robert at January 5, 2005 07:09 AM
Despite all the evidence coming out regarding the mistreatment of women under Sharia law, it baffles one to read:
The special poll based on a survey of 500 British Muslims found that a clear majority want Islamic law, (although the reports does not mention whether or not women were included in those polled).
Have you ever noticed where ever Sharia law is used, it is in those areas where Muslim men are in control of everything.
Sharia by stealth, Sharia by intimidation, Sarial by fear, but If you are a Muslim woman Sharia is what you will live and die by.
Posted by: exsgtbrown at December 20, 2006 7:16 AM
Why hasn't the UN cracked down on sharia law? It violates so many human rights.
Oh, yeah, they're too busy making fatwas against Israel and Jews.
Posted by: Josephine at December 20, 2006 7:26 AM
Why hasn't the UN cracked down on sharia law? It violates so many human rights.
....Are you referring to Sharia law or the UN? The UN is a paper tiger.
Posted by: exsgtbrown at December 20, 2006 8:18 AM
The saudis would be he laughing stocks of the world if they were not so rich.
Posted by: wallyUK at December 20, 2006 01:31 AM
The hell with their money-they ARE the world's laughingstocks. Nothing can change that fact.
I'm surprised they didn't simply kill the woman and solve the problem much more easily. This must be a sign of sharia lightening up a little.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at December 20, 2006 9:27 AM
"Are you referring to Sharia law or the UN? The UN is a paper tiger."
Posted by: exsgtbrown
I meant that sharia law violates human rights.
The UN is despicable.
Posted by: Josephine at December 20, 2006 9:31 AM
It continues to amaze me that these countries see nothing morally wrong with treating women as mere property. But then again, treating women as property is part of the mental sickness of Islam.
Posted by: Truthseeker at December 20, 2006 10:07 AM
UN=Urine Nations. They merely stand for every abomination in the world. I'm surprised they haven't tried to overtly push for global sharia yet.
Posted by: ISLAMSFORLOSERS at December 20, 2006 10:08 AM
More to the point, where are all these loud feminist movements when you need them?
Posted by: Truthseeker at December 20, 2006 10:08 AM
This just in.. American feminists have agreed to a gigantic, enormous, stupefying rally for their muslim sisters, marching on washington, then the UN, insisting the world unite with them to end unequal treatment of men and women under sharia law.
But first, after years of planning and formulating the anti clinton rally, exposing his hamhanded, sexist, use of women subordinates and borderline rapes, they have yet to establish a date and time for the march.
Updates to follow.
Posted by: icanplainlysee at December 20, 2006 10:21 AM
"Que locura!" What craziness!
The who thing is loony-toonies.
If the man wants the woman back - let him take her back.
What's the problem?
islam makes everything so complicated, their mind is a maze, that one must go thru to make an exit. Instead of going straight to a solution.
All they have to follow is
-step 1
-step 2
-step 3, etc.
And there you go, now take her home - get 'er out of here! Vamoose!
Allat
Posted by: allat at December 20, 2006 11:50 AM
"This makes me recall that audience of women on the set of The View who cheered so when Rosie pronounced Christianity as more evil than Islam."
The View is show that should not be watched by men who think women are blithering idiots because they will feel vindicated and use it as indisputable evidence. The women on that show are morons, as are the show's viewers.
But seriously, this case shows what an intrusive, totalitarian anti-human pile of non-sense Sharia law is. And why we have to fight this evil cult of 'Mo by any and all means possible.
Posted by: Proud Infidel at December 20, 2006 1:00 PM
here's an amusing example of the problems that can arise from islamic divorce practice (from a comment on the BBC website)
"As a Swede living in Malaysia, I find it interesting to hear Ms Khan argue that Sharia law can be seen to promote women's interests. Here in Malaysia, the current hot topic is whether Muslim men can divorce one of their wives by sending an SMS message with the required Arabic formula. Much to the embarrassment of the comparatively progressive Malaysian government, a state Sharia court found that this was indeed the case.
Harald, Malaysia"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/special/islam/3198285.stm
The BBC page, about how sharia is useful to Muslim women in the UK has a typical comments section - the house style seems to be that, seemingly on a random basis, comments favourable to Islam should outnumber those that are unfavourable.
Posted by: wallyUK at December 20, 2006 1:21 PM
Hmmm.... wonder why CNN has not picked up on this story? They are the defenders of the oppressed.
Posted by: callmeinfidel at December 20, 2006 2:34 PM
...popular television comedy serial “Tash.”
Tash, wasn't that the evil oppresive human-soul destroying god worshipped by desert people in the Chronicles of Narnia?
Just throwing that out there.
Posted by: JadeDragoness at December 20, 2006 7:54 PM
The two year old is with the dad but the baby is in prison?
Islam is not a family value.
Posted by: Isabellathecrusader at December 20, 2006 8:07 PM
This just in.. American feminists have agreed to a gigantic, enormous, stupefying rally for their muslim sisters, marching on washington, then the UN, insisting the world unite with them to end unequal treatment of men and women under sharia law.
.......Probably all ten of them will show up.
Posted by: exsgtbrown at December 21, 2006 3:44 PM
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