JEDDAH, 13 May 2008 — In an attempt to increase public’s awareness about divorce and custody issues, the Center for Law and Arbitration, a subdivision of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), is launching today a competition entitled “Research in Saudi Divorce Initiative.”
Journalist Haifa Khaled, who began her website “Saudi divorce initiative” — www.saudidivorce.org — on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day, is working with the JCCI in organizing the competition. She told Arab News that the initiative stemmed from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s call for social reform and the new legal system approved by a royal decree seven months ago.
She also called for a civil status law to put an end to difficulties faced by divorced women.
“This competition is open for everyone and in any field. The contest is for people to research divorce issues and increase the public’s awareness regarding divorcees’ rights and custody concerns,” she said.
“Women are still suffering and there’s a need to govern divorce regulations. The government is open to social reform and I want things to improve really soon,” Khaled added.
Chairman of the Center for Law and Arbitration Abdullah ibn Mahfouz said in a press release that the competition includes research in three major categories: divorce in Shariah, which includes the way and mechanism of divorce in Islam, breaking a marriage contract and khula (divorce by redemption); the rights of divorcees and their rights in Islam, which include rights during and after divorce, and the rights of children; custody in Islam, which includes custody in light of the Shariah, the conditions and priorities, and the custody of girls.
Khaled said that the winners would be awarded cash prizes sponsored and presented by Marei ibn Mahfouz Group. She also noted that the best nine studies will be printed in a book and distributed to the public free of charge.
“To participate in the contest, researchers must tackle the misconceptions about divorce, rights of divorcees and issues surrounding child custody,” said Khaled. “The research must be written in a way legible to the general public and not as a serious research paper,” she added.
A local newspaper reported last week that Mohammad Al-Harbi, manager of Social Protection in the Ministry of Social Affairs, said that the ministry supports Khaled’s initiative and that they are currently studying its content.
“We want to organize divorce issues. The ministry is interested in ideas that serve the community,” he said.
Entries will be received between June 1 and July 15, and can be sent along with the applicant’s resume and photograph via e-mail to [email protected].
