JEDDAH, 14 April 2004 — Shock and anger at the beating of TV presenter Rania Al-Baz by her husband run deep among women here. The story put a face to an issue that had been largely relegated to brief sensational items on the crime pages, with graphic images of Rania’s bruised and broken face appearing prominently in several local newspapers.

“It is a very common problem, unfortunately, not just here,” said Dima Al-Sulaiman, director of the volunteer committee at the National Home Health Care Foundation.

She believes social values are to blame. “Abuse starts from childhood — in how parents direct their sons and daughters’ behavior,” she said.

Other women also blame the family and society in general for making violent behavior acceptable. “Saudi men think that this is the way to solve problems. They don’t know how to discuss things quietly,” said Dina Arif, a businesswoman.

She says too often a woman who is beaten complains to her father, who instead of taking positive steps to protect his daughter convinces her to go back to her husband and try to work things out.

The attack on Rania had been only the most violent of many by her husband. “Why does it take so much time for a family to intervene on behalf of their daughter? Why don’t they do something from the first time the husband lays a hand on her?” she said.

There is no support structure for abused women, says Kholood Arif, also a businesswoman. “There has to be a hotline for abused women to seek help, but the problem is the police are all men and most often they side with the husband,” she said.

What is needed is awareness. Those who do not think this is a common problem here should visit charities for women and see for themselves, she suggested.

She added matters are complicated because the law does not allow police to enter a home in domestic violence cases.

Muna Al-Jedawi, a photographer at Al-Watan newspaper, says there should be no lenience for violent husbands.

She hopes Rania does not forgive her husband or try to excuse his behavior by saying that he has psychological or financial problems.

The sister of Rania’s husband, Dunia Bakr Yunis, a radio presenter herself, told Arab News she did not wish to talk about the issue, considering it a family problem. But she added she was against acts of violence and abuse even if it was her brother who committed them.