Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Nawal Yaseen, a doctor, is seeking the custody of her three daughters, who live with their half-brothers, after their father died seven years ago, Al-Watan newspaper reported Saturday. Nawal, who is not a Saudi citizen, was married to a Saudi and had three daughters with him. Her husband was already married and had children from his first wife when he proposed to her. Seven years ago, he drowned in a water tank, and her stepchildren accused her of causing his death. However, investigations have cleared her of any suspicions. Her husband's oldest son kicked her out of the family house, and took her three daughters forcibly from her. Nawal said she lodged many complaints with the concerned authorities, pleading to cancel an order to deport her from the country. Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal ordered the immediate protection for Nawal and to admit her to a social protection home in Taif. She remained at the home for six months, during which time, an amendment committee intervened in the case, and she forfeited her right to SR170,000 inheritance in exchange for keeping custody of her daughters. A court has issued a ruling granting her custody of her children. It also ruled that she has the right to reside in her husband's house with her stepsons. Nawal claims that a few months later, her husband's sons accused her of being mentally disturbed and beat her. During that time, she was seriously sick, and her husband's sons refused to take her to hospital. She complained to the police, who took her to hospital, and asked her stepsons to refrain from abusing her. However, after she left the hospital, they again assaulted her, and she relocated to a separate house. Two years later, a court issued an order granting custody of her daughters to her husband's sons. She challenged that ruling at the appeals court, but her stepsons did not attend the hearings. She also submitted a complaint accusing her husband's oldest son of inflicting burns on her oldest daughter, which was confirmed in a medical report issued by King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital. She said her husband's oldest son is a doctor, and she claims that he used his position to issue certificates claiming that her daughters were mentally disturbed. Naser Al-Kanani, a lawyer, said a judicial team has pleaded Nawal's case, and proved that she was innocent of all accusations. He said that according to the law, the wife of a Saudi citizen has the right to Saudi citizenship. He added that her deportation order is in violation of the law, which states that the wife of a Saudi citizen cannot be deported and should be treated like a Saudi citizen. He said a petition was submitted to the Riyadh governorate asking for the cancellation of the deportation order. The lawyer said Nawal currently lives under the Interior Ministry protection. She is asking for the intervention of high authorities to grant her the Saudi citizenship and custody of her daughters.
