Saudi woman 'forced to smoke hash' is granted divorce

A court in Saudi Arabia granted a woman a traditional Islamic divorce - known as 'khula' - after she said her husband forced her to smoke marijuana and abused her.

Society

2 min read

The New Arab

17 September, 2016

The accused had been jailed twice previously for alcohol and hashish consumption [Getty]

A 50-year old man in Jeddah has been found guilty of abuse and forcing his wife, in her twenties, to smoke hashish, a family court has ruled.

The abused spouse was granted a divorce by the court, known as khula in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), and the marriage annulled.

The family court acted after the victim contacted authorities, after coming under verbal and physical abuse, and isolation from her children by her husband who allegedly smoked hashish regularly.

During court proceedings a plaintiff provided a copy of a medical report from the King Fahad Hospital that supported the claimant's case, Saudi Arabia's Arab News said.

Police records revealed that the accused had previously been jailed twice for alcohol and hashish consumption - both of which are banned in the kingdom, with serious punishments attached.

"Shariah puts in place specific conditions that must apply to the husband in order for khula to be accepted," said lawyer Ahmed al-Qahtani.

"Because the marriage contract cannot be undone unless certain conditions are met such as being stingy, dealing with the wife in an unsatisfactory and abusive manner, refusing to pray or fast, or using drugs."

According to an informed judicial source 80 percent of khula cases at family courts in Saudi Arabia are due to spousal abuse perpetrated by husbands, reported Arab News.