“Most disputes originate from issues related to expenses, the interference of relatives in a marriage, or general misunderstandings between couples,” said Mukhtar Mahmoud Moulud, a legal consultant of family relations at the court.
Four to eight cases come before the committee daily. A minimum of two weeks is needed to find an amicable solution for most cases, except those that require more consideration.
“We can experience delays in resolving a case if one of the parities demands an extension or if we find that the situation needs more consideration, for example if the woman is pregnant or one of the parties is ill,” Moulud said.
He added that committee branches serve in several of the 11 district centers in Makkah.
A hot line in the Misfalah center is considered very helpful for feuding couples to find a quick solution to their issues, he said, adding that such lines are needed in other centers as well.
He also stressed that officials working in the reconciliation committees are skilled in handling disputes tactfully.
He described the delicate case of a man who wanted to sleep with his wife while she was in the early stages of her pregnancy, even though she did not want to.
She said in her complaint that currently the very sight of her husband was loathsome to her. In such cases, the committee tactfully delays a decision until the woman returns to normalcy, he said.
