Too often, the custom in Saudia Arabia is that women must be under perpetual male guardianship, passed from one male relative to another and not allowed to live alone. And now, women suffer a new human rights violation -- forced divorce.
Fatima Bent Suleiman Al Azzaz married her husband in 2003 with the consent of her father, who was her guardian. But after her father passed away her half-brothers petitioned a judge to divorce her from her husband, Mansour Ben Attieh El Timani, claiming that Mansour was from an "inferior background" and thus disgraced the family's reputation. Fatima suspects the half brothers were after her inheritance from her father. The judge forced Fatima and Mansour to divorce, and transferred guardianship of Fatima to these half brothers. Learn more from Equality Now.
Fatima refused to recognize the court's decision -- she was first imprisoned for nine months with her infant son and now has to live in an orphanage with him since she is not allowed to live by herself. Meanwhile, her husband, living with their daughter, is wanted by the government and is forced to constantly move. Her daughter is suffering from acute trauma now.
So much is wrong with this situation. This family is suffering gravely from many human rights abuses, including forced divorce and forced male guardianship. The King of Saudia Arabia has the power to reunite this family and ensure that women have the freedom to live without constant male guardianship and to remain in marriages of their choice. Please sign the petition to send a message to the King through the Saudia Arabian Ambassador and urge the immediate reunification of Fatima, Mansour and their children.
Too often, the custom in Saudia Arabia is that women must be under perpetual male guardianship, passed from one male relative to another and not allowed to live alone. And now, women suffer a new human rights violation -- forced divorce.
Fatima Bent Suleiman Al Azzaz married her husband in 2003 with the consent of her father, who was her guardian. But after her father passed away her half-brothers petitioned a judge to divorce her from her husband, Mansour Ben Attieh El Timani, claiming that Mansour was from an "inferior background" and thus disgraced the family's reputation. Fatima suspects the half brothers were after her inheritance from her father. The judge forced Fatima and Mansour to divorce, and transferred guardianship of Fatima to these half brothers. Learn more from Equality Now.
Fatima refused to recognize the court's decision -- she was first imprisoned for nine months with her infant son and now has to live in an orphanage with him since she is not allowed to live by herself. Meanwhile, her husband, living with their daughter, is wanted by the government and is forced to constantly move. Her daughter is suffering from acute trauma now.
So much is wrong with this situation. This family is suffering gravely from many human rights abuses, including forced divorce and forced male guardianship. The King of Saudia Arabia has the power to reunite this family and ensure that women have the freedom to live without constant male guardianship and to remain in marriages of their choice. Please sign the petition to send a message to the King through the Saudia Arabian Ambassador and urge the immediate reunification of Fatima, Mansour and their children.
To His Majesty, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dear Majesty,
I am deeply distressed to learn of the forced divorce of Fatima Bent Suleiman Al Azzaz and Mansour Ben Attieh El Timani. I implore you to take urgent action to immediately reunite Fatima, Mansour and their young children. This family is suffering deeply, and their children especially are suffering acute trauma from their separation and current living conditions.
I also ask that you ensure that the Saudi legal and judicial system reflect the stated claim that women are not subject to male guardianship, but rather have the right, among other things, to enter into and stay in marriages of their choice without third party interference.
Thank you for your consideration of this urgent matter.
We signed the "End Forced Divorce in Saudia Arabia" petition!
# 740:
2:31 am PST, Nov 13,Sara Ibrahim, Saudi Arabia
this has NOTHING to do with religion ... They are obsolete pre-Islam Arab traditions that Islam prohibited
# 739:
6:11 pm PST, Nov 12,Debbie Guntzel, Maryland
These women should not be subjected to the abuse they receive from their husbands.
# 738:
7:35 pm PDT, Oct 30,MELISSA FERNS, Michigan
Please help this family reunite.
# 737:
7:19 pm PDT, Oct 29,J.A. Baker, Wisconsin
Please allow this family which includes 2 young children who are traumatized by the separation to REUNITE and live as a family once again!
# 736:
4:11 am PDT, Oct 28,Ray Patel, South Africa
Plse note Forced Marriages and Forced Divorces are Totally against the teachings of The Beloved Prophet (P.B.U.H.). Change your ridiculous laws or face the Wrath Of ALLAH Swt.
# 735:
2:35 pm PDT, Oct 26,Cheryl Hopper, New York
I truly cannot understand how a marriage could be ended against the wishes of both the husband and the wife, because one of her relatives has a problem with it years after the marriage took place. The wishes of the couple, not their relatives, should be the basis for a divorce. This is, as others have pointed out, also very hard on the children and causing the elder daughter no small amount of distress. The couple wants to be together. The children want both parents. Why must they become criminals because her half-brother wants to see them parted? It's ridiculous, is an insult to the institution of marriage, and should be struck down as quickly as possible.
# 734:
7:04 pm PDT, Oct 23,Becky Love, New York
# 733:
2:13 pm PDT, Oct 23,Dee Dee Leger, California
Even though I am a American woman, I respect your countries beliefs. I only ask that you change this law for the sake of the children. They are the future of your Country. This woman's father said it was ok for her to marry her husband that should not change in his death. I feel that they disrespected their father and even their ancestors. I know how a lot of the people in your Country think of Americans to be unmoral and I can agree with a lot of it. But not all of us are bad. I have a question for you and I mean no disrespect by it....but how would you feel if you were in her fathers place. You let your daughter marry someone then after you would pass away your sons take her away from her husband and probably her children. Your sons would be disrespecting you and I believe that is wrong. Don't let these laws ruin your beautiful country. Thank you and bless your family and your health.
# 732:
10:44 am PDT, Oct 20,Ashley Olguin, Georgia
# 731:
6:08 pm PDT, Oct 19,Name not displayed, Singapore
# 730:
10:44 am PDT, Oct 19,Christina Kansakar, Nepal
# 729:
8:56 am PDT, Oct 19,Shiran De Silva, Kansas
# 728:
8:01 am PDT, Oct 19,Gamika Korale, Sri Lanka
It's their marriage and it's their will therfore its upto them to decide whether they live toghether or divorce, the decision is not your my friend!!
# 727:
4:55 am PDT, Oct 19,Oshadie Korale, Singapore
# 726:
8:52 pm PDT, Oct 17,Carol Ann Hartley, Australia
# 725:
7:31 pm PDT, Oct 16,Katherine Bramlett, California
# 724:
6:43 pm PDT, Oct 14,Robert Rinella, New York
# 723:
1:43 pm PDT, Oct 14,Carole Hagen, Oregon
# 722:
2:51 am PDT, Oct 14,Ilycia Laverty, New Zealand
To King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Please reunite Fatima, Mansour and their children, good things will always come from good deeds.
# 721:
4:59 pm PDT, Oct 13,Mimian Florez, California
# 720:
5:19 pm PDT, Oct 12,Jess Stewart, Canada
# 719:
7:10 pm PDT, Oct 8,Joyce TenEyck, New York
# 718:
12:57 pm PDT, Oct 8,Terri Abbott, Illinois
# 717:
8:10 am PDT, Oct 8,ALPHA WI, Germany
# 716:
6:33 am PDT, Oct 8,Andre Villegas, Canada
Does "LOVE" not exist in Saudi Arabia, such that your own brothers can legally break up your marriage and ruin your childrens' future?
# 715:
10:08 am PDT, Oct 5,Amy Mulvany, Ireland
# 714:
6:17 am PDT, Oct 3,Julie Linder, Florida
# 713:
10:13 am PDT, Oct 1,RRRR Barrows, Maine
# 712:
8:12 pm PDT, Sep 30,Melania Padilla, Nicaragua
# 711:
9:50 am PDT, Sep 30,Tasha Berry, Canada
# 710:
8:45 pm PDT, Sep 29,Cherie Chew, Singapore
# 709:
6:41 am PDT, Sep 29,Regina Kendrick, Tennessee
Please allow this family to be together. This lady should of never went to jail in the first place. Her half brothers are greedy and do not deserve her money. Shame on them. Thank you for helping this family. It is the right thing to do. Do not let this family suffer because of greed.
Thank you,
Regina Kendrick
USA
# 708:
11:07 am PDT, Sep 27,Barbara Rurale, Italy
# 707:
8:52 am PDT, Sep 27,Name not displayed, Wisconsin
# 706:
8:42 am PDT, Sep 26,Yolanda Shamir, Israel
# 705:
4:42 pm PDT, Sep 25,Sue Christiansen, Iowa
# 704:
3:47 pm PDT, Sep 24,Rosa Torres, New York
# 703:
1:24 pm PDT, Sep 23,Name not displayed, Virginia
# 702:
1:07 pm PDT, Sep 23,Debi Mohan, Canada
Dear Sir
I would like to know which century we are living in! I work in a high trauma hospital in Toronto, Canada and see some of your princes's here who are in medical school I have met 3 and have noticed that they are articulate, polite and have one wife here whom they are devoted too. Surely sir to have wonderful citizens from your country, highly educated as I am sure you are resort to old laws condemning women to antiquate laws are barbaric and I believe sir that you are above that. To split up a happy union is spite of antiquated laws is a disservice to you as a great leader and to your country! Please use your influence sir to overturn these antiquated laws and usher your people into a new and exciting era with the world looking to you to modernize without loosing your culture.
