Saudi Gazette report

NAJRAN — Saudi universities have refused to enroll a brilliant Saudi girl because she could not produce her national ID.

The girl could not obtain her national ID because her father refuses to recognize her as his daughter and he would not run a DNA test to prove his claim either.

The girl’s predicament started about 20 years ago when she was born after her father had divorced her mother.

Oblivious to the fact that the woman was pregnant, a judge who approved the divorce in the southern city of Najran ruled that the couple could never reunite in marriage.

When the girl was born, her father refused to recognize her and did not go for a DNA test to prove that she was his biological daughter.

The girl, who was identified by her first name Fatima, lived with her mother on social security money from the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

She was, however, able to complete her studies successfully until she graduated from the high secondary school with top grades, which would secure her a place in any medical college.

However, none of the universities would accept her because she did not have an ID, which is a pre-requisite for studying medicine.

The girl took her case to the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), which promised to take it to the Supreme Court.

The society’s chairman, Muflih Al-Qahtani, said they were able to secure a place for the girl in one of the universities, which said she could study in any college except the college of medicine. Fatima was adamant on studying medicine to be able to serve her country and society. “All the doors were closed in my face for no mistake of mine,” she said amid tears.

She said the Ministry of Education sympathized with her and promised to study her case. “The new academic year has started and I am still at home doing nothing,” she said.

Fatima expected the Supreme Court to rule in her favor and force her father to take the DNA test to prove that she was his daughter so that she can start the procedures for obtaining her national identity card.

Aspiring to study medicine, Fatima takes her case to NSHR