RIYADH — Five women have sued their guardians for forcing them to marry against their will, a local newspaper reported. Statistics released by the Ministry of Justice indicate that there were 62 such cases during the last 14 years. Legal consultant Faisal Al-Ashwan believes that the increasing awareness among women of their legal and Shariah rights is the prime factor behind such lawsuits. It is a positive sign, he said, as guardians used to force marriage on women without their consent. In Islam, the woman's consent is mandatory to marriage.
