Women’s abusers to pay up to SR50,000 in damages

A man found guilty of emotional, verbal and physical abuse of any female member of his family will have to pay the victim compensation of between SR5,000 and SR50,000, according to a new law that came into force last month following directives from the Supreme Judicial Council.
The perpetrator also faces jail of between one month and a year for such crimes.
The courts would sentence perpetrators once it receives medical reports as evidence from the Ministry of Social Affairs, said Muhammad Al-Harbi, from the ministry, on Tuesday.
He said the courts could also punish males for emotional and verbal abuse.
Al-Harbi said the law covers husbands, brothers, sons or any male member of an extended family. “The victim can be a daughter, sister, wife or grandchild.”
“However, if a blow leads to a woman’s disability or death, the payment of compensation will not be enough. The guilty will have to face criminal charges for such offenses,” said Al-Harbi.
“We have conducted workshops over the past three months in various parts of the country with those seeking to protect the rights of women. The ministry used a consultancy to prepare the draft law,” he said.
Women have welcomed the new legislation.
“This is great news for all those who are abused and forced to stay in their marriages because they have no money to start new lives,” said Hanan Mohammed, who recently divorced her abusive husband.
“My husband abused me, both physically and emotionally, for years. I couldn’t leave him because I did not have the finance to move out and rent an apartment,” she said.
“I felt bad but I finally decided to leave him after my son got a job and started paying the rent of my apartment.” she said.
“This is a great decision. It will ensure that women do not rely on their husbands for money because the government would give them what they need.”