year-old girl's right to education has come under threat by denial to official identity card. As children start the new school year on Oct. 3, Qamar Saad Al-Irmani, of Saudi parents, is not sure whether she will be enrolled in grade one simply because she does not officially exist in the database as a Saudi citizen. Her parents were separated a month before she was born. Her mother left the family home in Hail for Tabuk with her 9-year-old son, Obaid, leaving the rest of her children with their father. Ever since, the father has repeatedly refused to officially report and register the birth of his own daughter despite the mother's numerous attempts. Only a year ago, the mother filed for divorce so she could start processing independent ID paperwork for her and her children. But her case is still pending. “We have gone through tough times living with no official ID cards in our own country,” the mother said, citing tough times during child vaccination. “Now, my daughter can't be admitted into any school with no official ID,” she said. Qamar's case has seen its way through to the Social Affairs Office in Tabuk, however. “We have received the case and we are dealing with it as a humanitarian case,” said Naif Al-Sharif, head of the Follow-up Department at the office. “Our office has notified the Tabuk Emirate of the case and contacted the Education Department in Tabuk to temporarily admit Qamar until her birth certificate is issued,” he said. The Social Affairs Office has also contacted the Maternity Hospital and charity organizations in Tabuk to provide the help needed for the mother and her kids, he said. “We will be working closely with all departments concerned until the troubled family's conditions improve,” he added.
