RIYADH — Over 11,200 women have filed for alimony since the beginning of the current Hijri year, according to statistics from the Ministry of Justice. Courts in Makkah reported 35 percent of the alimony cases — highest in the Kingdom — with Riyadh standing at 25 percent, Al-Eqtisadiah daily said. Courts in the Eastern Province saw 13 percent of cases, and Jazan and Madinah each saw 6 percent of cases. The ministry released the report while divorcees await finalization of the alimony fund sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. Although it has been three years since the ministry announced its plans to launch the fund, the project is still pending. The fund is meant to help ease the burden on men who have to pay alimony to their former wives. The fund guarantees that women are paid their financial dues fully, and acts on behalf of women in dealing with husbands who refuse to pay. The ministry is also creating a new position of “reconciliation official” to work in centers to be established across the country. According to the ministry, reconciliation offices helped solve 72 percent of domestic disputes. Consultant to the minister of social affairs, Naser Al-Oud, said: “Reconciliation centers aim at decreasing the number of domestic cases and help couples narrow down their differences and continue with their marriage.”
