Mother loses custody battle
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 22 June 2007
A SHARIA court ruling has left a young divorcee without her children and their shared home, following a year-long court battle for custody and alimony.
The Emirati-born woman, who has Bahraini citizenship, has lost custody of her three young children and rights to the apartment they currently share as a result of the ruling.
The now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Women’s Petition Committee have announced their intention to support her in challenging the ruling.
The 29-year-old, who is the former wife of a Bahraini Interior Ministry employee, claims she has been the victim of a harassment campaign ever since she spoke on Al Hurra television about her experience in the Sharia courts.
Mother loses custody battle
By REBECCA TORR
Published: 22 June 2007
A SHARIA court ruling has left a young divorcee without her children and their shared home, following a year-long court battle for custody and alimony.
The Emirati-born woman, who has Bahraini citizenship, has lost custody of her three young children and rights to the apartment they currently share as a result of the ruling.
The now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and Women’s Petition Committee have announced their intention to support her in challenging the ruling.
The 29-year-old, who is the former wife of a Bahraini Interior Ministry employee, claims she has been the victim of a harassment campaign ever since she spoke on Al Hurra television about her experience in the Sharia courts.
Prior to the ruling she alleged that her ex-husband, who has no relatives in Bahrain, had been trying to pressure her into giving up the apartment she shares with her children and stopped providing alimony because of a judge’s ruling.
She ended her 10-year marriage three years ago – allegedly because her ex-husband was an abusive drunk who used to beat her.
She temporarily lost custody of her children after her ex-husband filed a court case against her accusing her of being a prostitute.
Even though she was acquitted of the charges, the Sharia Court granted custody of the children to their father.
In September 2006, her husband, who is a policeman, allegedly threatened her at gunpoint.
She has also reportedly been physically assaulted by members of her ex-husband’s family.
While speaking on Al Hurra television, she gave details of her case and said her eldest son chose not to live with his father.
She also spoke about how he was told by an Interior Ministry employee that if he left his father he would be sent to a juvenile detention centre.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, criticised the Sharia Courts and judges for their handling of the case and the Interior Ministry for failing to take any disciplinary action against her ex-husband.
The young divorcee claims she has been abused and threatened for speaking out against the Sharia courts, the Interior Ministry and the lack of a personal status law.
Since speaking out she claims she has received death threats and anonymous phone calls.
“Of course we will support her in appealing against this inhumane ruling,” said BCHR vice-president Nabeel Rajab.
The BCHR, along with the Women’s Petition Committee, took up her case last year.
“This is clearly another tactic to silence critics of the Sharia courts system and the lack of a family status law,” said Mr Rajab.
“This is more than a verdict – it is a punishment for a woman who dared to speak out.”
becky@gdn.com.bh
© Gulf Daily News
