A victim of domestic violence has shared her horror story on a popular Arabic television program.
Rawan, who had been abused by her father for years, told TV presenter Dawood Al-Shirian on the “Al-Thamina” program that she hopes to sever all legal ties with her father by coming off his guardianship to protect her three-year-old daughter, who was sexually assaulted by her own grandfather.
Rawan, who married a drug addict just to get away from her old man — now in prison in Bisha facing several charges, including her daughter’s assault — was herself forced into using drugs.
She had spent four years living with her sisters at a family house, while their father used their house to spend nights with girls taking drugs.
Her father is facing charges of harassment, homosexuality and drugs.
“I will never forgive him for sexually abusing my daughter and threatening to kill me before he escaped from Jeddah to Riyadh,” she said.
Osama Al-Zaid, undersecretary for arbitration and counseling at the Ministry of Justice, said that if the charges are proven in court, the man will be forced to drop the guardianship of his daughter.
Rawan can apply directly via the website of the Ministry of Justice to initiate her case, he said.
A judge at another court, however, said that Rawan cannot be free of a guardian because she still has an adult brother.
Ahmad Al-Sayari, Baha governorate spokesman, said the governorate would deal with the case immediately and that Rawan had previously submitted a document saying that her father prevented her from remarrying.
He said the subject was referred to the region’s reconciliation commission, the authority tasked with dealing with private family matters.
Domestic violence victim calls for dissociation from abusive father
Domestic violence victim calls for dissociation from abusive father
Foreign ministers chair Saudi-Omani coordination council meeting in Muscat
MUSCAT: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi on Monday.
They reviewed bilateral relations between their nations and ways to enhance and develop them across various fields. Additionally, they discussed regional and international developments.
The ministers co-chaired the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council in the Omani capital, Muscat, with the participation of the heads of the Council’s subsidiary committees and the two heads of the Council’s General Secretariat teams.
The meeting comes as an affirmation of the keenness of Saudi and Omani leaders to strengthen ties and advance them toward greater prosperity for both nations.
In his remarks during the meeting, Prince Faisal affirmed that gathering builds on the previous council meeting, held last year in AlUla, and on its positive and fruitful outcomes within the framework of the approved recommendations and initiatives.
He stressed the importance of continuing the work of the council’s subsidiary committees to complete the necessary procedures to implement the remaining initiatives, and of the General Secretariat’s role in follow-up and in addressing any challenges that may hinder implementation.
He also underscored the importance of developing and enhancing trade relations, stimulating investment, and strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors.
He also praised the ongoing work to establish and launch the Coordination Council’s electronic platform, which aims to connect all committee work and initiatives to facilitate follow-up on the Council’s progress.
Al-Busaidi affirmed in his remarks the qualitative progress in relations between the two countries and the notable development witnessed across numerous sectors toward achieving economic integration and enhancing intra-trade and joint investments.
The Omani foreign minister also highlighted deeper cooperation in the security and judicial fields, as well as the cultural and tourism sectors, noting the advanced and continuous political cooperation, consultation, and coordination on regional and international issues.
