Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — An average of over three divorce cases a day were filed in 2012, according to a study by Al-Eqtisadiah’s Unit of Economic Reports.



The study on divorces in Saudi Arabia noted that the number of such cases in 2012 reached 30,000, an average of 82 a day, while in 2010 there were 27,000, an average of 75 cases a day.



Saudi couples accounted for 90.1 percent (27,044) of divorce cases while non-Saudi couples accounted for 7.2 percent (2,174).



Cases involving Saudi men married to non-Saudi women came third at 2 percent (575), while divorce cases involving non-Saudi men married to Saudi wives accounted for .07 percent (207).



A number of Saudi parents force their daughters to marry, in direct contravention of Islamic law. This has resulted in an increase in divorces, reports from marriage officers and researchers said. Some parents have been justifying this behavior by arguing that their daughters do not know what they need or what is in their best interests. About 30 percent of divorces that take place in the Kingdom are the result of what is described in the Islamic law as “takhbeeb,” Alsharq newspaper reported quoting judicial sources.



“Takhbeeb” is corrupting a woman and goading her to hate her husband in favor of another man.



Muhammad Al-Jirani, judge of Al-Qatif Endowments and Inheritance Court, said takhbeeb is prohibited in Islam because any marriage relationship is based on harmony between both spouses. Some men bring takhbeeb lawsuits against people who encouraged their wives to abandon them. Usually, a sentence will be handed down to anyone found guilty of such action.