Philanthropist organizations here are working on setting up a support group for unmarried women that aims to protect them from the social pressure of marriage. They do not have to feel sad or isolated because they have been unable to get married, an informed source told Al-Hayat newspaper. The Marriage and Family Guidance Foundation held an event Friday to find solutions for the growing number of unmarried women in Saudi society. Abdullah Al-Atheem, chairman of the foundation and judge of an Appeal Court, said there are over 1.5 million unmarried women in the Kingdom. “Parents should be educated through media, lectures and meetings about the importance of reducing dowries and choosing God-fearing men for their daughters,” he said. Participants in the event called for issuing a decision that sets the amount of dowry at SR20,000 and stresses the importance of choosing good husbands for their daughters. Participants said Makkah region has the largest number of unmarried women (400,000) followed by Riyadh region, Asir, Madina, Jizan, Al-Qassim, Al-Jouf and Hail. They also warned against traditions and norms such as forcing a girl to marry her cousin, who might not be good in his religion and character. They also criticized how some families put unusual conditions on selecting a bride and how some young men delay marriage in order to raise enough money to pay for the wedding.
