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Home › Politics

Politics | 11/21/2008 7:30 am

Saudi Women Still Struggle to Break Free From Abusive Husbands

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
© iStock

In the 12 years that Azza has been with her Saudi husband, he has beaten her with metal rods, chained her up and poured boiling water on her.

But police usually sent her back home after her husband signed a pledge to stop mistreating his wife. Welcome to Saudi Arabia, where women need consent from men to do almost anything — from getting a job to renting an apartment.

"When I went back home the beatings gradually got worse," Azza, now divorced and living in the recently opened Abdulaziz Shelter in Jeddah, told Reuters. "The violence escalated even more and he started chaining me so that I could not run away. He blocked all the windows."

She finally escaped four years ago and got a divorce on grounds her husband was schizophrenic. But about 3,000 women in the country are officially listed as missing – many of them likely in the same position as Azza.

Some progress is being made – after women in the public eye have come forward with their abuse, and the pressure from Western governments. Shelters have been set up, but the legal position of women remains precarious because of the male "guardianship" system sanctioned by Saudi clerics. So often, these shelters are nothing more than a “vacation from abuse.”

"There are no laws to protect the women," said family doctor Sara Abbar. "The laws are against the women and social affairs officers fail to help the women properly. In the end the girl ends up with her guardian even if he is the one abusing her."

Read more about: abuse, Divorce, husband, News, Saudi Arabia, U.S., women, World

7 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

f p
And we want to bring democracy to the middle east? When they can achieve for themselves? When they’re still mired in the 10th century?Right Georgie.
By f p on 11/21/2008 8:20 am
Brooklyn Gal
Oh Frank, This is the same government that forced school girls back into a burning building because their heads weren’t covered. This is the same government that finances terrorists. These women cannot form protests groups without the fear of prison or death. Jimmy Carter tried to make Human Rights the center of his presidency and that failed. This country has enough money on its own and wouldn’t care about sanctions. The truth is, these women and many other women from that region will continue to suffer because there is nothing we can do to help them.
By Brooklyn Gal on 11/21/2008 8:53 am
f p
No we can’t —not until the Saudis are willing to enter the 21 century and become civilised humans and not under religious restraints that harken back to a very dark past. These women will still continue to suffer and die and be abused. I hope Allah has a special place reserved in hell for men like this woman’s husband.
By f p on 11/21/2008 9:11 am
Okpulot Taha
Couple of points. This type of Islamic inhumanity is not limited to Saudi Arabia, and is less severe in Saudi Arabia. Cruelty like this is pandemic within Islam. Other point is I would like to learn to what degree this type of Islamic abuse is taking place here in America and being ignored for political correctness concern. Islam is peace! So is death. Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation
By Okpulot Taha on 11/21/2008 9:22 am
Okpulot Taha
Reminds me of Islamic women being barred from appearing in photographs with Barack Obama. Step to the side, “sweetie.” Okpulot Taha Choctaw Nation
By Okpulot Taha on 11/21/2008 9:28 am
Grande Camper
How sad we can not do more to help these women.
By Grande Camper on 11/21/2008 10:23 am
Maurine H
Do not confuse Wahhabism, an extremist form of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia, with the rest of the Islamic faith. An analogy might be some of the more extremist groups that openly practice their faiths in the U.S., confining women and children to their compounds and relegating women to demeaning roles. The difference is that, in Saudi Arabia, Wahhabism is the prevailing form of Islam. There are exceptions, though. I have met Saudis, mostly members of the royal family, who were educated in Europe and were very much “Westernized.” As long as Wahhabism prevails in Saudi Arabia, women will have virtually no rights and they will be at the mercy of the male members of their society. As one of the world’s wealthiest countries, Saudi Arabia is still one of the most repressive.
By Maurine H on 11/21/2008 12:28 pm