JEDDAH: Jeddah Police rescued a woman who was confined in her house by her father-in-law, who is a businessman. Samira A.S., the freed woman, disclosed that she was taken to a hospital after she was beaten by her husband's brother and suffered bruises, and told that her recovery period would be five days. She said her father-in-law put her under house arrest, locking and chaining the main door and placing a guard outside the room where she was confined. The woman said she was able to call police, who responded immediately to her appeals for help. Four security men from the Al-Shimalia Police Station, freed her after breaking the locks and chains, and took her to the hospital. Her father-in-law placed her under house arrest to take her gold and diamonds and use them to settle her husband's debts, the woman said. Brig. Gen. Misfir Al-Je'aid, spokesman of Jeddah Police, said investigations on the case are under way and statements are being recorded. He said the matter would be referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution and described it as a family case. Ma'touq Al-Shareef, a member of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), said restricting any person's freedom is a crime. “What was carried out by this man is in contravention of the law and shows disrespect for the law in force in the Kingdom,” he said. “We trust the ability of the security men and investigators to enable the woman to restore her rights and punish the perpetrator.” He expressed his thanks to the policemen for responding quickly to the woman's appeals for help. Al-Shareef confirmed that the NSHR branch in Makkah Region will assist the woman, in case she needs its help, by assigning a lawyer or providing other services.
