A Saudi court has upheld a ruling forcing a woman to divorce her husband because of his social standing. Following an epic sixth month legal battle, a judge in Al-Ayina Court in the Saudi Arabian capital city of Riyadh upheld the original verdict that said Maha Al-Tamimi should divorce from her husband.
The original ruling was made when Mrs Al-Tamimi was eight months pregnant, and said she should separate from her husband, named named by Okaz newspaper as a soldier called Ali Al-Qarni, over her alleged ‘superior origin’.
Her uncles told the court that she had not gained her father’s consent for the marriage, but Mrs Al-Tamimi said she had not sought his permission as he had taken a second wife and no longer lived with the family.
She said an older brother had instead given his permission for her to marry Mr Al-Qarni. The new ruling has been referred to the Saudi Court of Cassation, which will make a final decision on whether to uphold the forced divorce or overrule the verdict.
According to Arabic newspaper Okaz, Mrs Al-Tamimi is categorically refusing to divorce her husband and return to her family. The newspaper said she plans to appeal to the Saudi Ministry of Labour and Social Development for Protection if the divorce ruling is upheld by the highest court.
She previously appealed King Salman bin Abdul Aziz to intervene in her case and reverse the judge’s verdict.