Saudi Gazette report DAMMAM — About 30 percent of divorces that take place in the Kingdom are the result of what is described in the Islamic law as “takhbeeb,” Alsharq newspaper reported quoting judicial sources. “Takhbeeb” is corrupting a woman and goading her to hate her husband in favor of another man. Muhammad Al-Jirani, judge of Al-Qatif Endowments and Inheritance Court, said takhbeeb is prohibited in Islam because any marriage relationship is based on harmony between both spouses. Some men bring takhbeeb lawsuits against people who encouraged their wives to abandon them. Usually, a sentence will be handed down to anyone found guilty of such action. A source in the same court said at least 2 percent of cases that reach criminal courts in the country each year involve takhbeeb, and most of them are filed by the prosecution or a woman's husband. The source added that men bring lawsuits after finding out illicit extramarital relationship between their wives and other men. If a married couple ends up in divorce due to takhbeeb, the judge may hand down a discretionary punishment commensurate with the damage inflicted on the husband. If the person charged with takhbeeb has used the Internet and entered into an illicit relationship with the woman and encouraged her to get divorce, in this case the judge should enforce the cyber crime law, which imposes prison sentence and fines. Humood Al-Khaldi, lawyer, agreed that a person found guilty of takhbeeb should get discretionary punishment that is suitable to his crime. He stressed the importance of family harmony, adding that Saudi laws did not determine a certain punishment for takhbeeb and left the matter to the judge to decide after reviewing individual cases thoroughly. He noted that it is usually difficult for the judge to prove a takhbeeb case due to lack of evidence. Khalid Al-Fakhry, legal consultant and member of the National Society for Human Rights, said women should not divulge their private information to strangers as this would make them vulnerable. He encouraged women to seek advice and consultation professionally instead of trusting strangers on the Internet.
