Tuesday, 03 July 2007
By Khozaima Al-Attas
JEDDAH Mayor Adel Fakeeh was taken off-guard Monday when about 150 women, both students and workers, asked him to approve a special driving club for women where they can learn driving to deal with emergencies.
They also sought his support for reactivating the Labor Ministry decision to limit the jobs in lingerie shops to saleswomen.
Fakeeh expressed his reservation about these demands on grounds that their implementation doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the mayoralty.
The role of the mayoralty is limited to granting a piece of land for the construction of the club once the authorities concerned approve the proposal.
Driving debate has been raging in the Kingdom ever since King Abdullah left open the possibility that women may be allowed to drive.
Information Minister Iyad Madani at the Jeddah Economic Forum last year said there was nothing in the law preventing women from obtaining a license.
"There is nothing in the law that prevents women from applying for a driver's license," he said.
As far as reserving jobs for women in lingerie shops is concerned, the deadline to replace salesmen with saleswomen was postponed last year for an undetermined period.
Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi made this decision following a representation by shop owners that they cannot meet the requirements of the Cabinet order within the specified deadline.
The Cabinet had set June 20, 2006, as the deadline to replace salesmen with saleswomen at all lingerie shops. The deadline to hire women in abaya shops and women-exclusive garment stores was June 9, 2007.
The Cabinet took the decision last June and businesses were given a year to prepare for implementation.
Statistics show that there are around 49 shopping malls and centers in Jeddah with around 247 shops to sell women's wears, 38 percent of the shops are for lingerie with only 15 percent of women sellers from the estimated number 879 employees.
The group of women, which met Adel Fakeeh Monday, also asked for the construction of playgrounds and sport clubs exclusively for women at the beach.
They also suggested construction of public libraries fully devoted to women.
They asked the mayor to open special sections in the mayoralty for women to enable them to follow their transactions themselves.
Feekeh revealed that the mayoralty's next budget will include allocations for securing jobs to Saudi women. The mayoralty will also open a special department to serve businesswomen.
He said the mayoralty has devoted Monday and Wednesday to serve women to follow up their transactions until a special section for women services is ready next year.
Showing posts with label Good for reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good for reading. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Consumer Protection Agencies Approved
Tuesday, 03 July 2007
Saudi Gazette
THE Cabinet in Jeddah Monday approved the establishment of two agencies to protect the rights of consumers.
The first one, called Deputy Ministry for Consumer Affairs, will be part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It will supervise services offered to consumers by various administrations of the Ministry.
The second one, called the Consumer Protection Society, is a private entity that will look after the consumers' interest and defend their rights.
It will also help authorities spread consumer awareness and protect consumers from deception, forgery and misrepresentation of commodities and services, including imported and locally manufactured food and pharmaceutical products.
Citizens with special interest and expertise on consumer protection issues will be on the board of the society's general assembly.
The Cabinet, presided over by King Abdullah, called upon the ministries of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Health, as well as Saudi Arabian Standards Organization, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and Customs Department to strengthen and reinforce their roles in protecting consumers' rights.
At present, consumer concerns in the Kingdom are handled by chambers of commerce and industry through consumer protection committees in most of them.
These committees at the chambers of commerce and industry participate along with other technical and general committees and the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) board of directors in setting quality standards of food and drug.
Most government agencies have departments to ensure consumer protection in collaboration with SASO.
The Cabinet also approved the academic calendar for the next 10 years.
The academic year has been split into two semesters. The duration of each semester will be at least 15 weeks, including the examination period.
Eid holidays for government employees will also apply to universities and schools.
King Abdullah also briefed the Council on the outcome of his meetings with the leaders of Morocco, Spain, France, Poland, Egypt, and Jordan.
King Abdullah expressed confidence that the Spanish, French and Polish leadership will consolidate their positive roles in enabling the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and help Iraq achieve its national unity.
Saudi Gazette
THE Cabinet in Jeddah Monday approved the establishment of two agencies to protect the rights of consumers.
The first one, called Deputy Ministry for Consumer Affairs, will be part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It will supervise services offered to consumers by various administrations of the Ministry.
The second one, called the Consumer Protection Society, is a private entity that will look after the consumers' interest and defend their rights.
It will also help authorities spread consumer awareness and protect consumers from deception, forgery and misrepresentation of commodities and services, including imported and locally manufactured food and pharmaceutical products.
Citizens with special interest and expertise on consumer protection issues will be on the board of the society's general assembly.
The Cabinet, presided over by King Abdullah, called upon the ministries of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Health, as well as Saudi Arabian Standards Organization, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and Customs Department to strengthen and reinforce their roles in protecting consumers' rights.
At present, consumer concerns in the Kingdom are handled by chambers of commerce and industry through consumer protection committees in most of them.
These committees at the chambers of commerce and industry participate along with other technical and general committees and the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) board of directors in setting quality standards of food and drug.
Most government agencies have departments to ensure consumer protection in collaboration with SASO.
The Cabinet also approved the academic calendar for the next 10 years.
The academic year has been split into two semesters. The duration of each semester will be at least 15 weeks, including the examination period.
Eid holidays for government employees will also apply to universities and schools.
King Abdullah also briefed the Council on the outcome of his meetings with the leaders of Morocco, Spain, France, Poland, Egypt, and Jordan.
King Abdullah expressed confidence that the Spanish, French and Polish leadership will consolidate their positive roles in enabling the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and help Iraq achieve its national unity.
More Beggars Flood Streets
Tuesday, 03 July 2007
Saudi Gazette
THE number of beggars in the Kingdom has ballooned in the last two years, according to the latest statistics of the Ministry of Social Affairs published in Al-Madina Arabic language newspaper Sunday.
Some 81 percent of the beggars are expatriates. Their number grew to 24,771 from 15,015 in two years. Saudi beggars in different regions also rose 40 percent from 3,630 to 5,317 in two years.
Many of the beggars do not have chronic diseases or permanent disabilities.
Four government departments are preparing a national plan that includes formation of local committees in Taif, Makkah and Jeddah to arrest beggars and hand them over to authorities.
It is in line with the order of the Council of Ministers to rid Saudi Arabia of beggary.
Dr. Sa'eed Al-Ghamdi, Director General of Social Affairs in Makkah, has submitted a plan in this regard to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Province.
Statistics last year found that begging among children was on the rise in Makkah, especially around the Grand Mosque.
Some of the arrested child beggars said their fathers dumped them on the street, where they spent more than 12 hours at traffic lights. Their fathers would collect the proceeds when they returned home.
A. Kh., a 14-year-old beggar, said, "I have been begging for many years. My father dumps me at the traffic lights and in the Central Area surrounding the Grand Mosque. When I spot the Immigration (Passports) Department's men or the Vagrancy Combat Office teams, I mix with the worshipers. During a day I collect at least SR200. When I return home, I find my father waiting for me to take the proceeds. I came to know many other beggars old and young. Each one has his trick to win sympathy. Some of them pretend to be handicapped while others make sure to win the sympathy of the worshipers and get money. We know the rich from their appearance. We know where they are staying and in what hotels. We stand near their luxurious cars. One woman gave me more than SR1,000. When she saw my health condition, she sympathized with me."
Last year, 4,228 male and female beggars were apprehended.
Non-Saudi beggar is handed over to the Committee for Investigating Expatriate Beggars that is an affiliate of Makkah Police so that the necessary measures are taken. In brief, they are deported to their respective countries.
However, if the beggar is a Saudi national, he is handed over to the Vagrancy Combat Office so that sociologists study his case to know the reasons for begging. If the study shows that he is in need, he is transferred to the charitable societies to help or to the General Organization for Social Insurance. If he is disabled and nobody is there to take care of him, he is transferred to the social care home.
Saudi Gazette
THE number of beggars in the Kingdom has ballooned in the last two years, according to the latest statistics of the Ministry of Social Affairs published in Al-Madina Arabic language newspaper Sunday.
Some 81 percent of the beggars are expatriates. Their number grew to 24,771 from 15,015 in two years. Saudi beggars in different regions also rose 40 percent from 3,630 to 5,317 in two years.
Many of the beggars do not have chronic diseases or permanent disabilities.
Four government departments are preparing a national plan that includes formation of local committees in Taif, Makkah and Jeddah to arrest beggars and hand them over to authorities.
It is in line with the order of the Council of Ministers to rid Saudi Arabia of beggary.
Dr. Sa'eed Al-Ghamdi, Director General of Social Affairs in Makkah, has submitted a plan in this regard to Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Province.
Statistics last year found that begging among children was on the rise in Makkah, especially around the Grand Mosque.
Some of the arrested child beggars said their fathers dumped them on the street, where they spent more than 12 hours at traffic lights. Their fathers would collect the proceeds when they returned home.
A. Kh., a 14-year-old beggar, said, "I have been begging for many years. My father dumps me at the traffic lights and in the Central Area surrounding the Grand Mosque. When I spot the Immigration (Passports) Department's men or the Vagrancy Combat Office teams, I mix with the worshipers. During a day I collect at least SR200. When I return home, I find my father waiting for me to take the proceeds. I came to know many other beggars old and young. Each one has his trick to win sympathy. Some of them pretend to be handicapped while others make sure to win the sympathy of the worshipers and get money. We know the rich from their appearance. We know where they are staying and in what hotels. We stand near their luxurious cars. One woman gave me more than SR1,000. When she saw my health condition, she sympathized with me."
Last year, 4,228 male and female beggars were apprehended.
Non-Saudi beggar is handed over to the Committee for Investigating Expatriate Beggars that is an affiliate of Makkah Police so that the necessary measures are taken. In brief, they are deported to their respective countries.
However, if the beggar is a Saudi national, he is handed over to the Vagrancy Combat Office so that sociologists study his case to know the reasons for begging. If the study shows that he is in need, he is transferred to the charitable societies to help or to the General Organization for Social Insurance. If he is disabled and nobody is there to take care of him, he is transferred to the social care home.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Saudi Women in the Media
Friday, 04 May 2007
2-day forum takes up issues of gender bias, rights
By Suzan Zawawi
Saudi Gazette
RIGHTS of journalists, obstacles facing female journalists, ethics of Arab journalism and the limited training were some of the issues touched upon by Saudi female journalists in Riyadh Wednesday night.
The two-day forum on "Saudi Women in the Media" was organized and sponsored by writer and journalist Nahed Bashatah, head of the Saudi Women's Information Center.
Saudi women in the field of information and multimedia are known for their struggle to succeed in spite of the fact that they do not have a role in decision-making, said Bashatah. "They do their best in the face of all odds, to continue doing their job to the highest possible standards."
The aim of the annual forum is to support female journalists and encourage them, said Bashatah.
This year's theme was, "how the women and the trends of multimedia impact on economic and social development."
The forum, which was inaugurated by Princess Adelah Bint Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, was a rare gathering of female media professionals from all over the country.
Among the speakers were Hayam Al-Kilani, the first female TV program director; Nawal Bahksh, head of the female section of Radio Riyadh; Sultanah Al-Sudery, a prominent writer and intellectual; Sabria Jawhar of the Saudi Gazette; and Qubul Al-Hajiri, of Ilaf electronic newspaper.
"I would like to make the point that physical segregation should never mean intellectual separation," said Princess Hissa bint Salman bin Abdulaziz, the forum's executive head during her inauguration speech.
"If one adds to this the facts that Saudi media women have the responsibility of reflecting a clear picture of this separate world, one will realize how important is the availability of women specialized in journalism's various branches; economic, political, social, educational, health and sports," said Princess Hissa.
Journalists' rights was the focus of Jawhar's paper. "Through my research for this paper, it became clear that it is very difficult to obtain a list of media regulations. I couldn't even find it on the Ministry of Information website," she said.
The unclear media regulations have resulted in diverse practices in media organizations, said Jawhar.
While male journalists themselves face some problems regarding their rights being violated, female journalists and freelancers face discrimination mostly in terms of low salaries, copyright violations, transportation benefits and protection.
There are no clear regulations that govern the world of freelancers, payment and promotion system, she said.
Another problem is the lack of a monitoring authority that supervises the implementation of ranking scale and structure within a media organization when they do exist which opens a door for manipulation, she said.
After her paper, many freelancers presented their personal story of years of discrimination. Fatimah Al-Anizi, from Radio Riyadh, complained of working for 17 years as a freelancer without being hired fulltime.
After hearing the plight of female freelancers, Princess Adelah requested Anizi and others to document their situation so that she could address the appropriate authorities.
2-day forum takes up issues of gender bias, rights
By Suzan Zawawi
Saudi Gazette
RIGHTS of journalists, obstacles facing female journalists, ethics of Arab journalism and the limited training were some of the issues touched upon by Saudi female journalists in Riyadh Wednesday night.
The two-day forum on "Saudi Women in the Media" was organized and sponsored by writer and journalist Nahed Bashatah, head of the Saudi Women's Information Center.
Saudi women in the field of information and multimedia are known for their struggle to succeed in spite of the fact that they do not have a role in decision-making, said Bashatah. "They do their best in the face of all odds, to continue doing their job to the highest possible standards."
The aim of the annual forum is to support female journalists and encourage them, said Bashatah.
This year's theme was, "how the women and the trends of multimedia impact on economic and social development."
The forum, which was inaugurated by Princess Adelah Bint Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, was a rare gathering of female media professionals from all over the country.
Among the speakers were Hayam Al-Kilani, the first female TV program director; Nawal Bahksh, head of the female section of Radio Riyadh; Sultanah Al-Sudery, a prominent writer and intellectual; Sabria Jawhar of the Saudi Gazette; and Qubul Al-Hajiri, of Ilaf electronic newspaper.
"I would like to make the point that physical segregation should never mean intellectual separation," said Princess Hissa bint Salman bin Abdulaziz, the forum's executive head during her inauguration speech.
"If one adds to this the facts that Saudi media women have the responsibility of reflecting a clear picture of this separate world, one will realize how important is the availability of women specialized in journalism's various branches; economic, political, social, educational, health and sports," said Princess Hissa.
Journalists' rights was the focus of Jawhar's paper. "Through my research for this paper, it became clear that it is very difficult to obtain a list of media regulations. I couldn't even find it on the Ministry of Information website," she said.
The unclear media regulations have resulted in diverse practices in media organizations, said Jawhar.
While male journalists themselves face some problems regarding their rights being violated, female journalists and freelancers face discrimination mostly in terms of low salaries, copyright violations, transportation benefits and protection.
There are no clear regulations that govern the world of freelancers, payment and promotion system, she said.
Another problem is the lack of a monitoring authority that supervises the implementation of ranking scale and structure within a media organization when they do exist which opens a door for manipulation, she said.
After her paper, many freelancers presented their personal story of years of discrimination. Fatimah Al-Anizi, from Radio Riyadh, complained of working for 17 years as a freelancer without being hired fulltime.
After hearing the plight of female freelancers, Princess Adelah requested Anizi and others to document their situation so that she could address the appropriate authorities.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Women’s Hotline open
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
By Arjuwan Lakkadawala
The Saudi Gaazette
SAUDI women who find themselves troubled, stressed out or at wit's end, now have a place to turn.
Al-Shaka'ik, an organization dedicated to helping women and girls, has created a hotline women can call for guidance and advice.
Women and girls can call 6917799 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Since the hotline opened, it has received 1,162 calls, mostly marital issues or emotional problems.
"One of our primary aims," said Intesar Salam Al-Sabban of Al-Shaka'ik, "is to give girls and women emotional support so that they can feel mentally stable, which is the only way that they can feel happy. "
In addition to the hotline, Al-Shaka'ik also runs a program that teaches girls how to be successful wives, teaching them the tools that are necessary to handle both the small and the large issues that inevitably crop up in marriages. The girls are also taught cooking and home decoration. The organization also offers programs for mothers, teachers and students.
"When a woman is aware of herself and has received the support of others, not only she will profit but society as a whole will profit, as well," said Nora Khalid Al-Saad, an Al-Shaka'ik member.
By Arjuwan Lakkadawala
The Saudi Gaazette
SAUDI women who find themselves troubled, stressed out or at wit's end, now have a place to turn.
Al-Shaka'ik, an organization dedicated to helping women and girls, has created a hotline women can call for guidance and advice.
Women and girls can call 6917799 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Since the hotline opened, it has received 1,162 calls, mostly marital issues or emotional problems.
"One of our primary aims," said Intesar Salam Al-Sabban of Al-Shaka'ik, "is to give girls and women emotional support so that they can feel mentally stable, which is the only way that they can feel happy. "
In addition to the hotline, Al-Shaka'ik also runs a program that teaches girls how to be successful wives, teaching them the tools that are necessary to handle both the small and the large issues that inevitably crop up in marriages. The girls are also taught cooking and home decoration. The organization also offers programs for mothers, teachers and students.
"When a woman is aware of herself and has received the support of others, not only she will profit but society as a whole will profit, as well," said Nora Khalid Al-Saad, an Al-Shaka'ik member.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Saudi Divorce Rate Growing
Monday, 16 April 2007
By Suzan Zawawi
The Saudi Gazette
ALTHOUGH yet to attain the heights of Western divorce rates, Saudi Arabia has seen a divorce rate of some 20 percent in the last couple of years. Translated into real numbers, this means that 33 Saudi women get divorced daily.
"This frightening rise in the divorce rate," said Nora Al-Shamlan, head of the Research Center at King Saud Girls College, "is the result of couples' ill-preparedness for marriage and its responsibilities."
The answer, claimed Al Shamlan, who organized a three-day seminar to discuss the reasons behind the sudden rise in divorce, is to offer marriage preparation courses. And there are many others who support that view.
"We can reduce the divorce rate by 30-60 percent by conducting such courses," according to Sheikh Salman Al-Oda, a prominent and popular Islamic scholar. "Take Malaysia, for example. They started pre-marriage counseling and seminars and the divorce rate plummeted."
Without frank talk about marriage and sexuality in the home and at school, Saudi youth resort to the media for pertinent information.
"They have no choice but to learn from the media," said Ghada Al-Tureef.
Al-Tureef also cited a study that showed that a full 78 percent of Saudi youth not only learn about marital relations from the media, but they are also basing their expectations for their own lives from the media.
There are a variety of problems that stem from youth basing their lives on media images, the most obvious being that so much of the media to which Saudi youth are exposed is Western in origin and not relevant in the supposed reality it portrays.
In another study conducted by Al-Jawaher Al-Zamil, Professor of Social Studies at King Saud University, two out of 3 of the males interviewed said that the media plays a big role in defining what an Arab family means.
"If the media has been changing the perception of what marriage and a family mean then we have a big problem. Just look at the many different channels and programs that are being transmitted into our living rooms."
In order to counteract the negative aspects of the media, Tureef called on the individual elements of a young person's world to unite in preparing Saudi youth for adulthood.
"The mosque, Friday sermons, the school curriculum and the family can become more active," she said.
After all is said and done, it does take a village.
Better preparation for adult life and marriage could, indeed, stem the spiraling divorce rate in the Kingdom. In her presentation to the conference, Al Zamil cited her study that showed 43 percent of Saudi marriages suffering from neglect, violence, constant arguments and/or one spouse dominating the other.
"This is a result of many couples being emotionally detached but remaining married for the sake of their children, or social prestige and social pressure," according to Al-Zamil.
On the other hand, Al-Zamil said, all is not lost for Saudi couples as a number of indicators show Saudi marriages and childrearing in a reasonably healthy state.
A full 57 percent of Saudi couples polled by Al-Zamil indicated that they were living a good marriage with love and understanding prevailing. Al Zamil also said that th e majority of families give their children greater leeway in choosing a future spouse.
"This is a positive social change, probably the result of lessons learned from previous forced marriages," she concluded.
STATISTICS
65% of divorcees aged 18-35.
46% of divorces took place during the first three years of marriage.
41% of divorced women were house wives
25% of divorced couples lived with husband's family.
75% of husbands believed they acted too hastily.
45% of divorced men would return to their wife.
40% of divorcees hold BA's, 23% high school graduates 4% higher education
44% marital problems started at the end of the first year of marriage.
Ministry of Justice statistics:
With 60% divorce rate, the Eastern Province witnessed 60% divorce rate in 2005, the highest.
King Fahd Bridge to Bahrain was attributed to be the reason for the highest divorce rate in the Eastern Province (60%). Husbands go to Bahrain for the nightlife, where alcohol is served legally and men and women mingle freely.
Riyadh came second place with 50% divorce rate
Tabuk 29% divorce
Madinah 16%
Makkah 15%
Baha the lowest with 9 % divorce rate
Reasons for divorce
He Said:
1-Family interference.
2-Wife unable or unwilling to take up her share of the responsibilities.
3-Wife's employment.
4- Wife not staying at home, visiting her family, going out with friends too often.
5- Constant criticism by wife.
6- Wife's stubbornness.
She Said:
1- Physical or mental abuse.
2- Another women, a second wife, an affair, or the maid.
3- Husband's weak religious beliefs and practices.
4- Husband not taking up financial and family obligations.
5- The influence of satellite channels, Internet chatting and pornography.
6- Husbands stingy and gold-diggers
Marriage comes in different forms
Thinking of marriage?
You first need to decide what type of marriage suits you the most.
Besides traditional marriage, there are different types of marriages to chose from.
Misyar
A marriage of convenience. It is a legal marriage but both the bride and groom place pre-marriage conditions which mostly consist of the woman relinquishing her right to be financially supported by the husband and her right for him to reside with her in her home.
Other popular conditions consist of not bearing children and keeping the marriage a secret usually from the groom's family and first wife and kids.
Orfi
This type of marriage comes in three forms: undocumented marriage, a woman marries without the consent of her legal guardian.
Misfar
This new type of marriage was in news last month when the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Abdullah Al-Mojel announced that all female scholarship students must travel with a male relative.
This is a legal marriage, the only condition is that the wife will be traveling to continue her education and that the husband would be traveling with her as per the ministry's new regulations.
By Suzan Zawawi
The Saudi Gazette
ALTHOUGH yet to attain the heights of Western divorce rates, Saudi Arabia has seen a divorce rate of some 20 percent in the last couple of years. Translated into real numbers, this means that 33 Saudi women get divorced daily.
"This frightening rise in the divorce rate," said Nora Al-Shamlan, head of the Research Center at King Saud Girls College, "is the result of couples' ill-preparedness for marriage and its responsibilities."
The answer, claimed Al Shamlan, who organized a three-day seminar to discuss the reasons behind the sudden rise in divorce, is to offer marriage preparation courses. And there are many others who support that view.
"We can reduce the divorce rate by 30-60 percent by conducting such courses," according to Sheikh Salman Al-Oda, a prominent and popular Islamic scholar. "Take Malaysia, for example. They started pre-marriage counseling and seminars and the divorce rate plummeted."
Without frank talk about marriage and sexuality in the home and at school, Saudi youth resort to the media for pertinent information.
"They have no choice but to learn from the media," said Ghada Al-Tureef.
Al-Tureef also cited a study that showed that a full 78 percent of Saudi youth not only learn about marital relations from the media, but they are also basing their expectations for their own lives from the media.
There are a variety of problems that stem from youth basing their lives on media images, the most obvious being that so much of the media to which Saudi youth are exposed is Western in origin and not relevant in the supposed reality it portrays.
In another study conducted by Al-Jawaher Al-Zamil, Professor of Social Studies at King Saud University, two out of 3 of the males interviewed said that the media plays a big role in defining what an Arab family means.
"If the media has been changing the perception of what marriage and a family mean then we have a big problem. Just look at the many different channels and programs that are being transmitted into our living rooms."
In order to counteract the negative aspects of the media, Tureef called on the individual elements of a young person's world to unite in preparing Saudi youth for adulthood.
"The mosque, Friday sermons, the school curriculum and the family can become more active," she said.
After all is said and done, it does take a village.
Better preparation for adult life and marriage could, indeed, stem the spiraling divorce rate in the Kingdom. In her presentation to the conference, Al Zamil cited her study that showed 43 percent of Saudi marriages suffering from neglect, violence, constant arguments and/or one spouse dominating the other.
"This is a result of many couples being emotionally detached but remaining married for the sake of their children, or social prestige and social pressure," according to Al-Zamil.
On the other hand, Al-Zamil said, all is not lost for Saudi couples as a number of indicators show Saudi marriages and childrearing in a reasonably healthy state.
A full 57 percent of Saudi couples polled by Al-Zamil indicated that they were living a good marriage with love and understanding prevailing. Al Zamil also said that th e majority of families give their children greater leeway in choosing a future spouse.
"This is a positive social change, probably the result of lessons learned from previous forced marriages," she concluded.
STATISTICS
65% of divorcees aged 18-35.
46% of divorces took place during the first three years of marriage.
41% of divorced women were house wives
25% of divorced couples lived with husband's family.
75% of husbands believed they acted too hastily.
45% of divorced men would return to their wife.
40% of divorcees hold BA's, 23% high school graduates 4% higher education
44% marital problems started at the end of the first year of marriage.
Ministry of Justice statistics:
With 60% divorce rate, the Eastern Province witnessed 60% divorce rate in 2005, the highest.
King Fahd Bridge to Bahrain was attributed to be the reason for the highest divorce rate in the Eastern Province (60%). Husbands go to Bahrain for the nightlife, where alcohol is served legally and men and women mingle freely.
Riyadh came second place with 50% divorce rate
Tabuk 29% divorce
Madinah 16%
Makkah 15%
Baha the lowest with 9 % divorce rate
Reasons for divorce
He Said:
1-Family interference.
2-Wife unable or unwilling to take up her share of the responsibilities.
3-Wife's employment.
4- Wife not staying at home, visiting her family, going out with friends too often.
5- Constant criticism by wife.
6- Wife's stubbornness.
She Said:
1- Physical or mental abuse.
2- Another women, a second wife, an affair, or the maid.
3- Husband's weak religious beliefs and practices.
4- Husband not taking up financial and family obligations.
5- The influence of satellite channels, Internet chatting and pornography.
6- Husbands stingy and gold-diggers
Marriage comes in different forms
Thinking of marriage?
You first need to decide what type of marriage suits you the most.
Besides traditional marriage, there are different types of marriages to chose from.
Misyar
A marriage of convenience. It is a legal marriage but both the bride and groom place pre-marriage conditions which mostly consist of the woman relinquishing her right to be financially supported by the husband and her right for him to reside with her in her home.
Other popular conditions consist of not bearing children and keeping the marriage a secret usually from the groom's family and first wife and kids.
Orfi
This type of marriage comes in three forms: undocumented marriage, a woman marries without the consent of her legal guardian.
Misfar
This new type of marriage was in news last month when the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Abdullah Al-Mojel announced that all female scholarship students must travel with a male relative.
This is a legal marriage, the only condition is that the wife will be traveling to continue her education and that the husband would be traveling with her as per the ministry's new regulations.
Saudi Divorse Cases on the Rise
Monday, 16 April 2007
By Suzan Zawawi
The Saudi Gazette
SOME 33 Saudi women are getting divorced every day in the Kingdom, resulting in nearly 1,000 new divorcees monthly, studies show.
The skyrocketing divorce rate shocked Nora Al-Shamlan, head of the Reserarch Center at King Saud Girls college, so much that she organized a three-day seminar in Riyadh recently to address the state of Saudi marriage.
Numerous speakers took to the dais to present papers full of statistics and studies that depict an institution - marriage - in turmoil, but one that is still far from its precarious position in the West.
The overall conclusion of the conference was that a lack of preparation for marriage was the biggest hurdle faced by young couples tying the knot for the first time. A variety of reasons were offered for this lack preparation that some contended led to a lack of realistic expectations for marriage and adult life.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, mass media took the biggest hit, with many speakers pointing to the proliferation of TV shows which do not reflect traditional, local values as a principle culprit.
Most dismaying, perhaps, was the contention in one study that 78 percent of Saudi youth rely on mass media for their sex education.
"Because the school curriculum does not address senstitive issues such as sexual education, it leaves Saudi youth with no choice but to learn about such things from the media.
Fifty-two percent get that education from TV; 38 percent get it from the Internet; 7 percent get it from newspapers; and 3 percent rely on the radio.
Additionally, one study showed Saudi youth get their ideas about family from the media, as well. One widely supported approach to stemming the surging tide of divorce was the implementation of pre-marriage courses, designed to prepare newlyweds for the ups and downs of married life. One speaker pointed to Malaysia as an example of a Muslim country that implemented such courses and succeeded in greatly reducing its divorce rates.
Not all was bad news, however, as 53 percent of married Saudis in one study claimed to be in stable marriages that celebrated mutual understanding on the parts of both spouses.
By Suzan Zawawi
The Saudi Gazette
SOME 33 Saudi women are getting divorced every day in the Kingdom, resulting in nearly 1,000 new divorcees monthly, studies show.
The skyrocketing divorce rate shocked Nora Al-Shamlan, head of the Reserarch Center at King Saud Girls college, so much that she organized a three-day seminar in Riyadh recently to address the state of Saudi marriage.
Numerous speakers took to the dais to present papers full of statistics and studies that depict an institution - marriage - in turmoil, but one that is still far from its precarious position in the West.
The overall conclusion of the conference was that a lack of preparation for marriage was the biggest hurdle faced by young couples tying the knot for the first time. A variety of reasons were offered for this lack preparation that some contended led to a lack of realistic expectations for marriage and adult life.
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, mass media took the biggest hit, with many speakers pointing to the proliferation of TV shows which do not reflect traditional, local values as a principle culprit.
Most dismaying, perhaps, was the contention in one study that 78 percent of Saudi youth rely on mass media for their sex education.
"Because the school curriculum does not address senstitive issues such as sexual education, it leaves Saudi youth with no choice but to learn about such things from the media.
Fifty-two percent get that education from TV; 38 percent get it from the Internet; 7 percent get it from newspapers; and 3 percent rely on the radio.
Additionally, one study showed Saudi youth get their ideas about family from the media, as well. One widely supported approach to stemming the surging tide of divorce was the implementation of pre-marriage courses, designed to prepare newlyweds for the ups and downs of married life. One speaker pointed to Malaysia as an example of a Muslim country that implemented such courses and succeeded in greatly reducing its divorce rates.
Not all was bad news, however, as 53 percent of married Saudis in one study claimed to be in stable marriages that celebrated mutual understanding on the parts of both spouses.
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