JEDDAH: For several years, a woman, her four children and her grandson have stayed in shopping centers during the day and slept in public parks. Their ordeal began after the woman divorced her husband, who was imprisoned due to drug abuse. Recounting her story, the woman said that after 16 years of marriage, her husband began spending time with companions who were bad influences and became addicted to drugs. He started beating her and was imprisoned several times for various crimes inclyuding drug addiction. The woman moved a court for divorce, but the husband's confession that he stole her money and jewelry ended the dispute and the two parties reconciled. The reconciliation did not last long, though, because the husband returned to drug addiction and was again placed behind bars. This forced the woman to demand divorce anew and the husband agreed to divorce her provided she dropped her demand for her jewelry and money, which she did. The divorced wife and her children returned to her family's home, but they refused to provide them shelter and told her to go to her ex-husband's family. The woman instead preferred to live on alms from philanthropists and found people who helped her stay in a humble house. One day the father came and requested to see his daughter, who was barely 17. Several hours later, the mother was shocked when her daughter called and said her father had married her off to his friend in return for a car and some money. The bridegroom forced his wife to live with his family, but after some time a dispute broke out and the couple left his family to stay in a furnished apartment for eight months before the husband returned her to her mother and never asked about his wife or son for two years. This forced the mother to demand divorce and force him to pay alimony, but he did not comply with the court verdict. The mother took charge of her four kids and grandson in her residence and paid rent from the SR800 social insurance she receives. The mother faced life's hardships, and needs and debts accumulated. She used candles for a long time after the electricity was cut off and the house owner evicted her from the apartment.
