The ministry made the call Sunday while launching its special “Mawarith” (inheritance) program on its website.

According to ministry sources, most inheritance disputes in the courts were related to men depriving their female relatives of their legal share. They said such disputes were more prominent in tribal societies. “Any woman deprived of her right to inheritance has the right to file a lawsuit in the courts,” president of the Jeddah General Court Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Qani said.

He said the judge would oblige the male inheritors to give women relatives their rightful share or face punitive action.

He said the new Mawarith program will help visitors to the ministry’s website find out how inheritance is distributed according to Islamic teachings. “This new service will make it easier for plaintiffs to understand their rights and save time and effort,” Al-Qani said.

Lawyer Mahfouz bin Mahfouz lauded the new service and said a large group of women were complaining of being deprived by their own brothers of the inheritance left behind by their fathers or mothers. “The launching of this new electronic service is an important step in spreading legal awareness among members of society,” he said, expressing confidence that women would understand their full inheritance rights as a result of the initiative.

Mahfouz said young women were now more aware of their legal rights and have started to appoint legal representatives other than their own brothers.

He pointed out that if the judge noticed any discrepancy in the distribution of inheritance, he would take action to ensure all heirs received their rightful share, even if it meant selling real estate.

He said the new service would absolve women of the embarrassment in demanding their rights from their own brothers.