Manama: A wife in Saudi Arabia has filed for divorce after she discovered that her husband had placed a bug in their home telephone, accusing him of eavesdropping on her conversations.
The wife said that the terrible mobile network in the area where she lived had forced her to resort to the fixed telephone to talk with her family and friends, Saudi daily Okaz reported on Sunday.
The husband, confronted by a court in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, admitted he had placed the bug, but insisted that it was to monitor the calls and conversations of the domestic helper.
The court referred the case to a reconciliation committee in an attempt to bring the spouses back together and bridge their differences in order to avoid the family breakup.
Khalid Abu Rashid, a lawyer, told the daily that eavesdropping on a spouse was a criminal offense and the verdict depended on the discretion of the court.
Social media users condemned the attempt by the husband to spy on his wife, saying that it was strictly forbidden in Islam and highly unacceptable within society.
"If a husband has doubts about the behavior of his wife, or vice versa, they simply should go their separate ways because life together will be only problems and fights," Sidi, a user, posted.
Another user, writing under the moniker of Riyadh said he was shocked by the report.
"I find it incredible that a Saudi man spies on his wife, and I also find it incredible that wife reports her husband to the court and expose him to reprimands. Both spouses were wrong and they should get back together," he said.
Noura said she admired the wife's determination.
"I wish I could have a character as strong as hers," she posted. "She did not tremble and went all the way with the case in order to prove her point."
Tayyeb said the husband was lying.
"His argument that he wanted to monitor the domestic helper is weak because he should have then informed his wife about it," he said.
Rashid added that only insecure people or those with dubious pasts would resort to spying on their spouses.
