6 Gulf Daily News
Alert as divorce
Sunday, 23rd October 2011
DIVORCE rates have rocketed By FARAH AL KUBAISY lawyer Abeer Abbas said most mar- divorce in Bahrain is mistreatment Arabia the lowest, according to Booz
in the last eight years as women ried women remain patient and often and physical abuse and the least is and Company sociologist and senior
feel more able to assert their inde- be prevented. put up with mental, bad behaviour which adviser Mona Al Munajjed.
pendence. “The main cause of separation is physical and emotion- involves drugs, alcohol Clinical psychologist Dr Bana Bu
The latest figures from the Sunni not understanding your partner prop- al abuse. or having an emotional Zaboon said women have become
and Shi’ite courts show 1,303 people erly and dealing with problems in the “Most women disorder. less afraid of being divorced and a
tied the knot last year and 1,158 got wrong way,” she told the GDN. choose to stay with “Other reasons include large number of divorcees get remar-
“Lack of understanding and wrong their husbands and lack of financial support ried.
divorced. and infidelity.”
This compares to 4,909 marriages handling of situations lead to simple live in separate rooms She explained almost all unhappy
regardless of the hus- Ms Abbas called for
in 2002 and only 838 divorces – a rise problems which end up triggering the action to be taken to marriages suffered a lack of commu-
of 72 per cent over the period. actual separation.” band’s bad treatment
or bad behaviour,” she slow down rising divorce nication, shared understanding and
Rights activists say Bahraini Ms Rabea said divorces almost rates, saying couples in contentment.
women feel more independent and always have hidden issues that can said.
“This decision is the 20-29 age group were The expert said growing divorce
are no longer willing to suffer unhap- remain unresolved for years. more likely to separate rates in Bahrain were part of a world-
py or abusive relationships. She said that couples should be taken for the sake
of the children or during the initial years of wide trend.
They also blamed aware that they come marriage. “In the past, women did not know
a lack of preparation from different mind- because women are
afraid to be called a n Ms Rabea But despite the alarm- their rights, women are now more
among couples before sets and should not try
they get married, which divorcee. ing figures, Kuwait has the highest educated in this field and refuse to be
to take their bachelor “The most common reason for divorce rate in the GCC and Saudi victims,” she added.
can sometimes lead to lifestyles into their
Bizarre reasons for break-ups
quick divorces. marriage.
“Women have “Most couples don’t
become more empow- know how to deal with
ered and stronger and problems and should
will not tolerate being start to learn how to
disrespected or suf- strengthen their dia-
fer physical, mental A VARIETY of bizarre reasons have reportedly pampered his housemaid she came across involved a man
logue and communica- been listed by couples filing for more than his wife and one husband whose wife caught him having an
or emotional abuse, tion skills,” said Ms divorce in Bahrain. divorced his wife for serving him affair.
said Bahrain Women’s Rabea. Among the most peculiar cases uncooked rice. He was angry that she had con-
Union media spokes- n Ms Abbas
She said the practice involved a woman who demanded But one of the most bizarre cases tacted his mistress and insulted her
woman Fatima Rabea. a divorce after reportedly being dis- encountered by lawyers and activists and threatened to divorce her unless
of ending a marriage by text mes-
“Being called a divorcee is not gusted by the “filthy words” her involved a husband reportedly con- she apologised to his lover.
looked down upon nor has it a stigma sage was inhumane, disrespectful to husband texted her in an attempt to trolled by his mother, The Bahraini refused
as much as people perceived before. women and contrary to human rights.
“Just like marriage started in the seduce her. who insisted the couple and the couple divorced.
“Part of it because women have The marriage of a well-known should keep their bed- “There are a lot of
become more independent and are right way, it should end the right way media presenter also broke down room door open at all women who are emo-
able to take care of themselves and since it didn’t start over a message because she received poems and times. tionally and mentally
their children on their own rather than either,” said Ms Rabea. flirtatious messages from fans via “The couple lived controlled by their hus-
depend on their husband.” She called for more preparation for
Facebook. “The husband did not with the husband’s fam- bands, who believe it
Ms Rabea said while more women couples ahead of marriages to help approve of text messages prais- ily and could not have is his right to cheat on
were seeking divorces from Sharia or reduce divorce rates. ing his wife’s work,” said lawyer their privacy even in his wife,” said Dr Bu
family courts, most separations could Despite growing divorce rates,
Fowzia Janahi, their own bedroom – the Zaboon, director of the
who deals with wife’s role was to serve Muharraq-based Dana
divorce cases. as a maid because the Consultation Centre.
“While the hus- husband’s personality “These women are
band believed that was weak against his convinced their husband
having his photo family,” said Ms Janahi. n Ms Janahi is right and have no
taken with anoth- She said women also choice but to accept it
er woman was often file for divorce because their as they feel they cannot be independ-
acceptable.” husbands do not allow them to leave ent without him, this is the psychol-
A n o t h e r the family home and even forbid ogy of the victims.
divorce came them from visiting their families. “Even though she is being tortured
as a result of a Clinical psychologist Dr Bana Bu with her love to him, she lives in a
husband who Zaboon said one of the worst cases cycle of disadvantage.”
n American Mission Hospital joined forces with Al Rashid Group and Johnson & Johnson to
promote health and well-being at the Oasis Centre in Riffa yesterday. Medical and nursing
staff provided shoppers with free health check-ups and women were offered breast cancer
examinations. Children took part in a drawing competition at the event and had the chance
to win prizes from Johnson & Johnson. Above, AMH marketing and development co-ordinator
Bahnaz Abbas, sixth from right, and Al Rashid Group marketing manager Zafar Ali, fifth from
right, with officials, medical staff and participants at the event. Right, a shopper has his blood
pressure checked.