Muslimah Writers Alliance Recognizes Women's History Month 2007

Fatima Al-Timani, 34 & Mansour Al-Timani, 37, of Saudi Arabia have been married for over three years. Fatima’s late father approved the marriage and the couple have two children. (The father has since passed away, leaving the power of attorney and, more important, custody rights over Fatima in the event of her separation from her husband, to his male children, Fatima’s two half- brothers.)

A divorce in absentia was sought by Fatima’s half-brothers on the grounds of Mansour’s "inferior" tribal lineage. The divorce was granted in absentia. An appeal was requested by Fatima’s Lawyer but as of January 21, 2007 the appeals-court ruling has upheld the original court ruling.

Fatima was told to return to her guardian’s home (her half brother’s) and she has refused to return to the custody of the family members who intervened on her three-year marriage to Mansour Al-Timani.

Fatima remains in prison (for her safety) while her infant boy lives in prison with his mother. She has continued to languish in prison in Dammam since last summer while her two-year-old girl remains in Mansour’s (the father’s) custody.

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 stature in order to make them relinquish their inheritance has already been documented.

Please sign the Say 'No' to Forced Divorce - 'Yes' to Reforms petition to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and support the Al-Timanis and positive reform in the area of guardianship of women within the Kingdom.

Time is running short. There are already reports of additional cases pending in the Saudi judicial system - threatening to rip apart at least 22 more families and irreparably destroy countless lives if the potential domino effect of the ruling that started this travesty of justice is not reversed through the Kingdom's High Court.

Please sign the petition today and share the information with your friends and associates. Insha'Allah.

"The whole world is looking for humaneness.

Anybody who works for faith, nation and moral values will never be a loser."

~Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah,

addressing attendees of the National Heritage and Culture Festival at Janadriya

February 17, 2007

THE

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