Manama: A young Saudi woman has founded a legal club to help women and children who face violence or abuse but do not have access to legal advice.
The club, which includes several female university students in the western Saudi city of Taif, will monitor the cases of women and children in courts and will promote social awareness about legal rights, Salma Musallam Al Talhi, the club founder, said.
She added that she had discussed the club idea with the head of regulations and systems at the University of Taif and that he had approved it.
“This is a club of volunteers and it was founded through personal efforts and includes 13 Sharia college students,” Salma said, quoted by local daily Al Watan. “Our first meeting discussed the cases of women and children that need support and the obstacles to their legal rights, and these include deep-rooted traditions and the lack of awareness.”
The club wants to reinforce a strong legal presence of women in the region through a series of activities that boost women’s awareness about the significance of the law, she added.
“I have consulted with several lawyers in order to provide employment opportunities for female graduates from the University of Taif here in the region instead of going to Jeddah, Makkah or the capital Riyadh,” Salma said.
According to the young activist, one of the most pressing issues the club wants to tackle is the khole – when the wife files for divorce and she is either in total agreement with her husband, or has to pay money or has four witnesses to witness the reason why she wishes to end the marriage.
Under Saudi laws, khole cases can be filed only in courts where the husband lives.
“Women face problems with such a situation and we want the cases to be filed in courts where the women live,” Salma said, as she expressed hope that the club would contribute to a higher legal status of women and children in Taif and throughout the kingdom.
