A District Court judge here Sunday sentenced a married woman to two years behind bars and 300 lashes for cheating several men separately. The woman, posing as unmarried, agreed with the men to have ‘Misyar' marriage and would escape after receiving dowry. A Misyar contract is a marriage contract where couples can live separately but get together regularly. It allows a man to avoid the cost of an expensive wedding, a large dowry, and providing a home. A source in the court said the woman, married to an aged Saudi, looked for ‘Misyar' husbands with the help of a female matchmaker and a 30-year-old man. The female matchmaker and the man, the source said, would negotiate the ‘Misyar' marriage on behalf of the sentenced woman. The young man involved in the case was also sentenced to one year in jail and 150 lashes for his part in the cheating. After concluding the dowry procedures and officiating the marriage, the “supposed” wife would disappear with the money. The woman pleaded guilty to the charges against her. The woman was arrested after her aged husband filed a complaint with the police that his wife had relationships with unrelated men and intended to tie the nuptial knot through Misyar marriage. The District Court has referred the verdict to the Court of Cassation for attestation. Meanwhile, victims of the woman's deception are preparing to file a lawsuit demanding refund of their money paid to the woman in dowry.
