Saudi Gazette report ABHA — A rehabilitation center in Abha reportedly offered money to the fiancé of a battered woman to cancel their wedding plans, a local newspaper reported Saturday. The fiancé said the center had asked him for a written statement expressing his unwillingness to marry the woman. He was engaged to her seven months ago. The youth said he had to travel to Jeddah to treat his cancer-stricken sister and had postponed the marriage. During this time, the brothers of his wife-to-be had a change of heart, saying he was below their status. One of the woman's brothers submitted a complaint to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution, claiming an illegal relationship between his sister and her fiancé. The bureau investigated the allegations, and could not prove it. The fiancé was called again by the bureau and asked to sign a statement expressing his unwillingness to marry the woman. He refused and asked that the case be referred to the courts. During the trial which took place about two-and-a-half months ago, the judge was absent and his betrothed refused to go back to her family. The police were called and she spent the night at the police station. She claims that she was threatened and insulted by a police officer, and was later referred to the Abha rehabilitation center. She was also offered money to renege on her marriage commitment. The woman charged that she was battered at the center. She slept on the floor and was deprived of food. She returned to her family, where she was subjected to physical abuse. A medical report confirms that the woman was admitted to a hospital in Asir for two days as a result of physical abuse. Astma Ismail, head of the rehabilitation center, and the spokesman for Abha police Maj. Abdullah Shathan, have not responded to repeated calls for their reactions. Ahmad Al-Bahlaki, supervisor of the National Society for Human Rights in Jazan, said members of the society would visit the woman to find out the truth.
