JEDDAH, 3 April 2003 — Women’s inheritance cases form the majority of cases pending in Saudi civil courts. So much so that calls for special women’s sections in courts are increasing, Al-Madinah newspaper reported.
Court records show that in most cases women were deprived of their inheritance. Many of these aggrieved women are demanding women’s sections in court and especially in law offices where they can discuss their cases with qualified women lawyers.
“Our parents died in a car accident and we inherited their real estate,” one victim told the newspaper. “We did not have any brothers, so our uncle looked after us and he was our legal guardian. The uncle asked for power of attorney over the real estate, promising that he would look after the property. Several years later we asked for our inheritance back and discovered that our uncle had stolen everything. We went to court and won the case against him. Now he is in prison.”
Umm Ali agrees that a women’s section would be a good idea. “Women are better at understanding other women.”
Women cannot go to court without a male relative, which has led to some cases remaining unresolved for years.
“My husband died as a result of a health problem,” S.M. said. “I went to court so I could get a document of limitation of succession. His relatives took advantage of my weakness and demanded that they be given some of my husband’s possessions. I went to court to protect my rights, but the case is still unsolved.”
Ibtisam Al-Shehri said that since some banks were establishing women’s sections and the same thing was happening at the Ministry of Civil Services, opening a women’s section in courts or law offices was only reasonable.
“It is a woman’s right to have legal procedures facilitated. This can be done by opening women’s law offices. This does not go against our customs and traditions.”
Hadi Al-Yamani, a lawyer, said: “The number of civil cases is increasing. I think it is only fair for women to have their own section in law offices, because there are some women who are weak and must be protected. I have fought many cases where women were deprived of what was rightfully theirs.”
A source at the Justice Ministry, who refused to give his name, shot down the proposal, saying it was “not possible” to open women’s sections in the courts of the Kingdom.
