Manama: A Saudi groom who divorced his bride on their wedding night has been branded “totally irresponsible” and “utterly insensitive.”
The couple has reportedly accepted to marry without meeting or seeing each other at least one time as is the custom with traditional families that allow the prospective groom and the future bride to exchange looks.
It was only on the wedding night, and as the female guests from the two families were celebrating the wedding, that the groom saw the bride’s face for the first time in the presence of a hired photographer who was getting ready to take their picture.
“You are not the girl I want to marry. You are not the one I had imagined. I am sorry, but I divorce you,” the groom told the bride, local daily Okaz reported on Sunday.
Under the shock, the bride had a nervous breakdown and broke into tears, drawing the attention of the guests who rushed to her and tried to understand how an evening of happiness was turning into a tragedy.
“He caused her great pain through his irresponsible attitude, and he deserves to suffer,” Afra, a social network user, said. “He should appreciate that beauty is in the character, not the face. Unfortunately, many young people today are interested only in looks and ignore values and morals. May God give her a better husband who will appreciate her for who and what she is.”
Abu Nass, another user, lambasted the groom.
“He is not man enough to assume his responsibilities,” he said. “He is totally, completely insensitive. Nobody has forced him to marry her. He should have insisted on seeing her before the wedding and the engagement, and not wait until the wedding night. May he always be a loser and may he be deprived of getting married at all. He is not a man and he lacks basic feelings,” Abu Nass said.
Khalid said that the whole case was a catalogue of errors.
“Even if it is a traditional wedding, the two families should have arranged for the man and woman to see each other so that there is no misunderstanding or misconception,” Khalid said. “If the two accepted each other, the marriage plans would proceed. If not, then everybody seeks another chance in life. But waiting for the wedding night is not right,” he said.
Badr said that the groom should have been more sensitive and thoughtful.
“Whatever the reasons, it is not acceptable or fair to divorce her on the wedding people as the two families are celebrating,” he said. “He was selfish and foolish.”
