Stuck in Saudi Arabia with four children, no passport and an unfriendly ex-husband proves to be a trial for an Australian woman.
An
Australian woman is stuck in Saudi Arabia while trying to get out with her four children.
The problem stems from the unnamed woman's ex-husband having taken all of their passports and after a troubled divorce proceeding has refused to return hers or her children's passports. In Saudi Arabia the Wahhabi sect of Islam grants all rights to the husband in a marriage and leaves women on the beggars end of the proceedings.
The woman, who is an Australian citizen has been refused sanctuary at the Australian consulate despite having been accepted for a job at the consulate.
The unnamed woman is also now facing arrest by Saudi authorities due to having allowed a male neighbor to see her face while it was uncovered.
In a written statement, a DFAT spokesman said the consulate could not be used to shelter Australians from the local laws.
He said one of the woman's children had been issued an Australian passport but not the other three.
"Australian consular staff at the Australian Embassy in Riyadh will continue to meet the woman's consular needs to the maximum extent possible," the statement said.
While the Australian consular staff appears to be satisfied with their job performance, I wonder how the lady in such dire straits might rate their abilities?
Divorce Aussie/Arab Style
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