The Social Affairs Ministry branch in Makkah has pledged assistance to a grief-stricken family hit by domestic violence.

The family including the mother, in her 50s, and her nine children, had escaped from her abusive husband who would repeatedly hit her and kicked her out of her house. She has sought shelter at her brother’s house.

The woman’s brother, who preferred anonymity, said his nieces and nephews, aged between four and 18, do not have any form of identification since their father had refused to get them IDs.

“My niece, who has graduated from high school, could not apply for university because she has no identification whatsoever,” he added.

“The court refused our request for having the IDs issued because the documents are incomplete.”

“We also approached the governorate, which also refused to consider the request because of lack of identification,” he added.