A naturalized Saudi woman has sought the help of the National Society of Human Rights (NSHR) in obtaining alimony from her ex-husband whose violence, she says, was responsible for six miscarriages. She also says he threatened to kill their son. Habiba Abdullah made the appeal after seeing her court case delayed for ten years due to her ex-husband's failure to appear at the hearings. Habiba said she married a Saudi businessman in her country of birth Malaysia, but after she came to the Kingdom with him and obtained citizenship her husband said he did not want to have children by her, and threatened to “throw in the garbage” any babies they had together. Her husband's use of violence against her, Habiba said, led to six miscarriages. He would also send the maid to hit her, she claims. Pregnant without the knowledge of her husband, Habiba made a family visit to Malaysia and gave birth, returning with the child five months later. “My husband was extremely angry when he saw the baby,” Habiba said. “He tried to kill my son lots of times, so I ran away from him and then he divorced me.” “Now my son and I live off benefits, and we can't afford to rent an apartment.” “I let my son visit his father once a month, but he treats him very badly and doesn't give him much money even though he is rich,” Habiba said. An NSHR member in Makkah said that Habiba was entitled to alimony while her son was living with her, and that the father should provide the son with suitable housing and an education.
