The Ministry of Justice is conducting a study to expedite the process of issuing alimony to divorced and abandoned women, Al-Madinah newspaper reported on Sunday. A source said the ministry was conducting a study on the performance of the alimony fund to facilitate and expedite the process. "The ministry is looking into ways to make the fund independent of the state treasury. The ministry expects to complete the study within two months. It clarified that the government pays alimony to the recipients following court orders," said the source. It said the recipients are usually divorced or abandoned women and in some cases married women also receive payments from the fund. "The ministry has allowed women whose cases are still in the trial stage to receive alimony funds until a verdict is issued. If the verdict denies them alimony, the recipient must pay back the money received during the trial," said the source. The source said a total of 11,267 alimony cases were heard in various courts in the past one year. "Makkah courts received a total of 3,896 cases, followed by Riyadh courts with a total of 2,836. The Eastern Province courts received a total of 1,503, Madinah courts 700 cases and Jazan courts 690 cases," said the source. There were 497 cases in Asir, 340 in Qassim, 201 in Hail, 199 in Tabuk and 150 in Jouf. Jazan courts with 61 cases came last. Courts in Northern Border Province received a total of 104 cases and Baha courts received 90 cases.
