Another Desperate Plea for Help.Summary: This weekAEs column reflects on yet another heart-wrenching story about a family being torn apart through no fault of their own. This one is about a young Saudi lady who opted to marry a foreigner. She relates some of the suffering C that followed. "I am a 32-year-old Saudi woman married to a non-Saudi. I met my husband in March 2007. It was a Tuesday and my memory clearly recollects all the wonderful details of that day. Last June, he and I celebrated our first marriage anniversary in his homeland in a western country. Why? Because I am denied the rights to get him a residency permit (iqama) so we could both live in Jeddah where we got married and where my work and life is. "We have complied with all the procedures required by the Ministry of Interior of Saudis marrying non-Saudis and we obtained a marriage permit and formalised Adj. 1. formalised - concerned with or characterized by rigorous adherence to recognized forms (especially in religion or art); "highly formalized plays like `Waiting for Godot'" formalistic, formalized the marriage contract in a court in Jeddah. But my husband has never lived or worked in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (sä  `dē ərā`bēə, sou`–, sô–), officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, kingdom (2005 est. pop. , as he
owns his own company. He was here only on a business visit when C we
met.
"I applied at the Interior Ministry, I hired an agent, those people called 'mo'akibs ' in Jeddah, and I asked those I know and related to for help. I did everything you could imagine just to get my God-given simple right of having an iqama for my hubby so he could live with his wife in her country. Nothing yet. I had to fly to his homeland last June after he was kicked out of Jeddah due to some complications on his business visa. Just imagine Mr. Tariq! We were having our usual dinner when we received a phone call from the mo'akib saying that my husband had to leave within a few hours. It was so humiliating hu·mil·i·ate tr.v. hu·mil·i·at·ed, hu·mil·i·at·ing, hu·mil·i·ates To lower the pride, dignity, or self-respect of. See Synonyms at degrade. and stressful. I cried my eyes out that day. "What hurts me the most is to see the huge number of expatriates working and living in Saudi Arabia and having the right to bring their family members to live with them and I can't have a residency for my husband. Why? Because I'm a Saudi 'woman' and I chose to marry a non-Saudi man! "We are a country that rules according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Qur'an and Sunnah Qur'an and Sunnah is an often quoted Islamic term regarding the sources of Islam. Muslims hold that Islam is derived from two sources: one being infallible and containing compressed information — the Qur'an . The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "All mankind is from Adam and Eve Adam and Eve In the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, the parents of the human race. Genesis gives two versions of their creation. In the first, God creates “male and female in his own image” on the sixth day. , an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim, which belongs to a fellow-Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice C to yourselves." "The Prophet also said, "If a suitor SUITOR. One who is a party to a suit or action in court. One who is a party to an action. In its ancient sense, suitor meant one Who was bound to attend the county court, also, one who formed part of the secta. (q.v.) approaches whose religion and character pleases you, then let him marry. Otherwise, there will be a lot of immorality and corruption in the world.' "There is no mention of nationalities or race. Why am I being forcefully separated from my husband? Why am I given the choice of either leaving my country or living in constant instability and insecurity? "I believe that everything happens for a reason. I keep hoping that something good will come out of this eventually, Insha'Allah. But for now, I am despairing, separated and alone against my choice." What more can I append To add to the end of an existing structure. to this lady's words to convey the extent of despondency de·spon·den·cy n. Depression of spirits from loss of hope, confidence, or courage; dejection. Noun 1. despondency - feeling downcast and disheartened and hopeless despondence, disconsolateness, heartsickness she must be going through during this spiritual month, other than to add my plea to the bureaucrats at the Ministry of Interior to expedite a favourable resolution to her case and to many others like her in order for them to live in normalcy nor·mal·cy n. Normality. Noun 1. normalcy - being within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning normality ? Let us all be guided by the spirit of the moment and do the right thing. Tariq Al Maeena is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be reached at eC talmaeena@aol.com Arab News Copyright 2009 Khaleej Times The Khaleej Times is a daily English language newspaper published in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is published by Galadari Printing and Publishing L.L.C. with the Gulf News being its main competitor. . All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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