Raniyah Al-Ghafeer, who is in charge of women’s affairs at the committee, told Arab News that the woman did not want to return to Egypt. Her husband, an Egyptian doctor, passed away in Madinah and the widow has been unable to find a sponsors for her iqama (work/residency permit).
Al-Ghafeer also said the woman’s two brothers — one in Kuwait and the other in Egypt — requested that she be deported to Egypt and successfully had her and her children transferred to Jeddah from Madinah.
The woman, identified as Abeer, said she is owed money and that by law she can demand compensation before immigration officials can deport her.
“We are doing our best to help put an end to her suffering, either by settling all the issues that prevent her from being deported, or at least take her out of prison until her case is considered,” Al-Ghafeer said, adding that the widow is under duress because she has been separated from her children.
Al-Ghafeer said there are about 200 women in Jeddah prisons, including 32 Saudis. The infractions these women are being held for include unpaid debts, drug abuse and physical abuse of maids. Women who serve time often have difficulties reintegrating into society because their families refuse to take them back.
