A Saudi citizen has appealed to authorities to help him see his children after being barred by his ex-wife from regaining custody in spite of a court ruling in his favor.

The ruling gives the man custody of the children from the age of seven.

Khalid Al-Harbi, however, has not been able to see his children since the verdict was issued seven years ago.

“I have exhausted every legal channel but have failed due to the non-responsiveness of my ex-wife and her legal representatives,” he said.

He called on officials to investigate why the verdict was not put into effect.

“A court in Jeddah had issued a letter stipulating the immediate implementation of the verdict, but the situation necessitates force,” said a media source.

“I filed a formal complaint with the Interior Ministry earlier this year, which had been referred to the Makkah Municipality,” Al-Harbi.

The municipality sent a letter to the Jeddah police commander requesting immediate implementation and the issuance of an arrest warrant against the plaintiff’s ex-wife, a report in the local media said.