LAWYER and family members of couples of the forced divorce cases attribute inheritance as the real reason behind such cases.

"The claim of unequal tribal statue is usually a cover-up for reclaiming inheritance or blackmailing female family members to relinquish their rights of inheritance," said Ibraheem Al-Bahri, the legal adviser and representing lawyer for Rania and Saud.

H.S, the 22-year-old wife of A.W. who is faced with the possibility of being forcedly divorced, agrees. H.S. and her family believe their half-brothers' greed is the reason behind the forced divorce. "They previously took our share of inheritance after our father passed away," said H.S.

Mansour Al-Timani, who was forcibly divorced from his wife Fatima, also claims that the half-brothers have always had disputes with his wife's mother. "They have had problems in the past over inheritance," said Timani.

Blackmailing their female relatives with forced divorce on the grounds of unequal tribal statue in order to make them relinquish their inheritance has already been documented.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Bahri was visited by a young Saudi lady seeking legal advice. "The lady, Nora, said that her father passed away two months ago and that her brothers were threatening her to forcibly divorce her from her husband unless she gives them her share of her father's inheritance," said Bahri.

Unfortunately, Bahri doesn't know whether Nora had taken his advice in fighting for her rights. Nora left his office without making a decision on what she will do.

"The problem is we hear only a few cases of women who are brave enough to fight back. I am sure there are many women out there who are facing the same threats by male members of their family and will probably relinquish their share to save the unity of their family and save her husband the shame of publicly being underrated," said Bahri.

Family disputes over inheritance and brothers taking their sister's share of inheritance is the major complaint Bahri's female clients have.

'Without a codified law, and an official stand against the rulings of forced divorce based on unequal tribal status more and more men will threaten their female family members with forced divorce," said Bahri.