RIYADH, 10 April 2007 — Saudi courts have recently seen a number of cases in which women have demanded divorces saying they have been subject to marital rape and unwanted sexual activities by their partners.

As sex continues to remain a taboo subject in the Kingdom’s conservative society, some social activists believe that tribal traditions prevent women from coming out in the open and reporting sexual assaults.

An Internet poll conducted by a local newspaper showed that 42 percent of married Saudi men say they do not have sexual problems. Meanwhile, 93 percent of married women surveyed said they were experiencing sexual problems.

“Saudi society admits the existence of partner rape. A comprehensive survey of Saudi society about the issue and how serious it is has not yet been conducted,” Dr. Madeha Al-Ajroosh, a woman activist and psychologist, told Arab News.

“It’s difficult to carry out any scientific survey, as few women are willing to open up and discuss their sexual lives,” she added.

Adnan Al-Saleh, a Saudi lawyer, has dealt with some divorce cases in which women have alleged they were forced into unwanted sexual activities. “Wives are forced to enter into unwanted sexual activity with their husbands and are even beaten for not responding. This is something that causes women to experience severe psychological and emotional consequences,” he said, adding that 33 marriages end in divorce every day.

According to state law, most countries in the world do not recognize the concept of rape within marriage. A UNICEF publication noted that, as of 1997, only 17 international countries had recognized marital rape as a crime.

“Marital rape increases because it is prosecuted and punished less often and less severely than other crimes. This is in spite of Saudi law criminalizing sexual assaults,” said Dr. Suhaiylah Zain Al-Abidin, a Shariah professor and preacher. “In practice, the courts rarely take such offenses seriously and it is difficult to provide the relevant evidence unless the victim is seriously injured,” she added.

From an Islamic perspective, violence against one’s wife or wives has been condemned. The Qur’an explicitly calls on men to treat their women well.

Abdul Aziz Al-Qasim, a professor at Imam Muhammad ibn Saud University, said in order to prove sexual abuse at a Saudi court a woman needs to undergo a medical check. “A medical examination which proves the occurrence of sexual abuse is required when a woman decides to pursue legal action against her husband. If she can’t provide the evidence then she wouldn’t be able to seek a divorce later,” he said.

Saudi scholar Sheikh Abdul Mohsin Al-Obaikan told Arab News, “Women need to stand up and refuse such treatment from their husbands by threatening to leave or leaving home for a short while. If a husband doesn’t mend his ways then the law gives women the option of seeking a divorce.”

It does seem that judges in the Kingdom deal with the concept of “marital rape” differently. Some courts may issue divorces where as others may not.

Dr. Zain Al-Abidin said that legally there is little protection for women within marriage. She also added that many women feel ashamed to discuss intimate sexual issues.

“There are many reasons that force women to keep on living with their husbands after being sexually assaulted. There is a lack of moral support from society. However, most families blame women for failing to fulfill their husbands’ needs and for continuing to suffer in silence,” she said.

“Emotional support and counseling are important in assisting women to recover from sexual assaults,” she said, adding that some women fear that their refusal to have sex will lead their husbands to take second wives.

Dr. Zain Al-Abidin added that people in Saudi society lack knowledge about sex. She further called for a campaign at schools and mosques to encourage awareness about sexual issues.