Domestic Violence in Saudi Arabia

188 Pages·2015·6.14 MB·English

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Theses and Dissertations Student Scholarship
10-2015
DDoommeessttiicc VViioolleennccee iinn SSaauuddii AArraabbiiaa
Sahar Alhabdan
Indiana University Maurer School of Law, [email protected]
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN SAUDI ARABIA

Sahar Alhabdan

Submitted to the faculty of the Maurer School of Law in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree
Doctor of Juridical Science
Indiana University
October 2015
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "The most perfect man in
his faith among the believers is the one whose behavior is most excellent;
and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives."

[At- Tirmidhi]

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iii
v Dedication
I would like to dedicate this work to my loving mother and father. I also would like to
dedicate this work to my beloved husband, Abdulrahman and my lovely child Beisan for
their support and encouragement.

iv
v Acknowledgments
First of all, I would like to thank God for his grace he gave me in my life and for
advancing me in my academic career.
Second, it is my pleasure to acknowledge my deep sense of gratitude to my Committee
Chair, Prof. Joseph L. Hoffmann for his valuable comments, support, patience,
motivation, and for always having the time to help. I would like also to thank my
dissertation committee members, Prof. Christiana Ochoa and Prof.
Donald H. Gjerdingen, who gave me great guidance and comments on my dissertation.
I would like also to extend my thanks to Prof. Lisa Farnsworth, Director of the Gradate
Legal Studies Department of the Maurer Law School; Lesley E. Davis, Assistance Dean
for International Programs; and Lara Gose, Graduate Student Services Coordinator, for
giving me guidance and encouragement throughout my Master’s and SJD study at the
Maurer School of Law.
Last, but most importantly, I would like to thank my loving parents for giving me their
support and encouragement throughout my whole life. My very special thanks go to my
loving husband, Abdulrahman, for being extremely supportive throughout my study and
for his inspiration, patience and encouragement.

v
v Abstract
Family violence is a serious issue that affects women in Saudi Arabia. In response to
cultural acceptance of violence between spouses in Saudi Arabia, the government issued
its first law criminalizing domestic violence in 2013. The Protection from Abuse Act was
proposed to improve protection for women and to punish the abusers, but several articles
in the Act may reduce its effectiveness. Issuing laws prohibiting domestic violence
cannot by itself protect women. Women should be protected under family law by
preserving their rights to marry, divorce, obtain custody of children, and receive alimony.
This dissertation will study the issue of domestic violence in Saudi Arabia. It will provide
a clear understanding of domestic violence, women’s rights under Islam, and the source
of law in Saudi Arabia. This dissertation will shed light on several problems in the
Protection From Abuse Act and under family law and will provide ways for how to
effectively improve the law.

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Table of Contents
v Dedication .............................................................................................................. ii
v Acknowledgments ................................................................................................ iii
v Abstract ............................................................................................................... vi
v Table of Contents ...................................................................................................v

v Chapter one:
o Introduction ................................................................................................1
o Goals ............................................................................................................3
o Research Roadmap ....................................................................................4

v Chapter two: What is Domestic Violence? ..........................................................6
o Introduction ...............................................................................................6
o Section One: Definition of Domestic Violence ........................................7
o Section Two: Types of Abuse ..................................................................11
• Other Forms of Abuse .............................................................12
o Section Three: Theory of Violence .........................................................14
o Conclusion ................................................................................................20

v Chapter Three: Domestic Violence and Women Rights in Islam ....................21
o Introduction ..............................................................................................21
o Section One: Women in pre-Islam .........................................................23
o Section Two: Women in Islam ................................................................27
• First: Women Rights Under Islam ..........................................27
• Second: Women and Marriage in Islam .................................33
§ The Purpose of Marriage .................................33
§ Marriage Requirements ....................................34
§ Husband and Wife Rights ................................36
§ Divorce .............................................................38
o Section Three: Islamic Perspective on Spousal Violence .....................40
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• First: Common Conception .....................................................40
§ The Concept of the Husband Authority ...........40
§ The Concept of Wife Disobedience .................43
§ Why Does Domestic Violence Still Prevail
Despite Women Rights in Islam? ...................54
o Conclusion ................................................................................................57

v Chapter Four: The Legal System in Saudi Arabia ...........................................58
o Introduction ..............................................................................................58
o Section One: The Legal System in Saudi Arabia ..................................59
• The Source of Law ...................................................................59
§ The Quran ........................................................60
§ Sunnah (Tradition) ..........................................62
§ Ijma (Consensus) ............................................63
§ Qiyas (Analogy) ..............................................65
• Other Sources of Law in Saudi Arabia ....................................66
o Section Two: Judicial Authority .............................................................67
• Share’a Court ...........................................................................67
• The Board of Grievances .........................................................68
• Judicial Principle ......................................................................69
o Section Three: The Criminal Justice System in Saudi Arabia ............71
• The Individual Rights Under The Saudi Law of Criminal
Procedure .................................................................................71
• The Crime Category .................................................................73
§ The Concept of The Crime ..............................73
§ Hodod Crime ....................................................74
§ Qisas Crime ......................................................79
§ Tazear Crime ....................................................81
• Tazear Crimes That have no Criminal Code
....................................................................82
• The Codified Tazear Crime .......................84
viii
§ The Protection From Abuse
Act 2013 .............................84
o Section Four: Family Law .......................................................................86
o Conclusion ................................................................................................89

v Chapter Five: The Protection From Abuse Act ................................................90
o Introduction ..............................................................................................90
o Section One: How Court Were Dealing With Domestic Violence Cases
Before The Issuance of the Protection from Abuse Act .......................92
o Section Two: The Issuance of Protection From Abuse Act 2013 .........95
§ First: International and Local Calls ................95
§ Second: The Law regarding Sexual Harassment
..........................................................................98
o Section Three: The Protection from Abuse Act 2013 .........................101
§ First Problem: Title and Definition ..............101
§ Second Problem: The Punishment ...............107
§ Third Problem: Abuse Should Always Be
Treated as a Crime .........................................115
§ Fourth Problem: Offender Program Treatment
........................................................................119
o Conclusion ..............................................................................................122

v Chapter six: Clear Procedure For Family Law ..............................................123
o Introduction ............................................................................................123
o Section One: Codifying the Law ...........................................................124
§ Benefits to the Saudi Legal System ...............125
§ Increase Women’s Status and Protection .......127
o Section Two: How to Effectively Codify Family Law to Make it Serve
Women’s Needs ......................................................................................132
§ Divorce cases .................................................132
§ Enforcement Mechanism for Alimony ..........136
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