A family of seven is suffering because of their mentally ill father, who is forcing them to live in a state of abject poverty and humiliation to the extent that he has even prevented his sons from getting circumcised. “I got married more than 19 years ago to this man, who pledged that he would provide me with a decent life,” said Umm Khaled, the wife of the man who suffers from a mental disorder. “I was living a decent life with my husband. But he changed after he lost his job. He didn't care for his sons and daughters and refused to spend any money on us. When he is hungry, he goes out to his relatives and friends to have a meal, but he leaves us without any food or drink. I can't go to my family because he prevents me from going out,” she said. “My husband receives monthly assistance from the General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI), but he doesn't give us a single riyal. We are living on assistance from philanthropists, who know about our condition.” Umm Khaled said that one of her husband's brothers tried to get him medical treatment, but his attempts were in vain. “I've thought of demanding a divorce from him, but I'm afraid I'll be leaving my daughters with a man who can't provide them a decent life,” she said.
