Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — The General Court here has set August 18 as the date for the trial of a Saudi husband who allegedly tortured his first wife with his second wife, Sabq.org reported. The woman, 29, said she has suffered at the hands of her husband and new wife. She claimed she was beaten up, shackled with handcuffs and left for days without anything to eat. Her husband also allegedly cut her hair. The woman's case was reported to Kaakiyah Police in Makkah, the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR)'s Makkah branch and the Committee for Social Protection on May 21 by Hera General Hospital. The report said a woman was admitted to the emergency room late at night with severe bruises that indicated she had been brutally assaulted. The report added the woman's parents were dead and she was brought to the hospital by her husband. The Makkah Emir's Office issued instructions to the police station to arrest the husband and the second wife. The NSHR branch asked one of its staff, Amirah Taha, to legally represent the victim before the court due to her condition. The initial medical report determined the woman would need three months to recover and is still facing the risk of developing complications. Taha said the woman was brutally attacked and her husband did not take her to hospital immediately as he wanted her to suffer. She said: “Police investigators talked to the victim and listened to her story. “Shortly after, they arrested the husband and his second wife while the children of both wives were sent to their father's brother.” Taha will file for divorce, compensation, custody of children and alimony on behalf of the victim. The father is said to be a drug addict and also beats his children. “He's now in prison after threatening his first wife and is asking her to drop the case against him.” Taha has managed to provide a shelter for the victim and her seven children, who are staying at an accommodation building run by the NSHR. The husband and the second wife have been investigated by the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution and their case has been referred to the General Court for the final verdict.
