Personal status courts have received 172 family-related violence cases during the past six months, according to a report released by the Ministry of Justice. The violence cases involve a range of issues, including beatings, rape, humiliation, denial of rights and negligence.

According to the ministry’s report, the Eastern Province recorded the highest proportion of family violence incidents at 38 cases, followed by Jazan (35), Asir (20), Makkah (20), Madinah (18) and Qasim (13).

Other regions received varying numbers of cases, including Jouf (10), Riyadh (eight), Tabuk and Najran (three each), the Northern Border and Baha (two each).

In a related development, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) have jointly launched training programs on how to deal with family violence. The programs target judges stationed at personal status and penal courts and, so far, some 150 judges from diverse judiciary departments have benefited from the sessions since the beginning of the current Hijri year.