Opinion | Editorials

Respect rights of women, children

A divorced husband must allow his wife and children to live in their family home.

  • Gulf News
  • Published: 23:07 June 21, 2009
  • Gulf News

The principle of a family home being handed to the mother and children when divorce occurs is a long-standing one, firmly rooted in civil and Sharia law.

It is, however, also a principle that is challenged all too often by spouses, seemingly blinded by motives other then ensuring children are well provided for when husband and wife end their legal relationship.

As well as upsetting the social structure and destroying the family environment for children, forcing wives to seek new accommodation results in increased costs for the government. In effect, the government is forced to provide two homes for what was one family unit. That is an unfair burden to place on officials and the public purse.

In the interests of preventing undue costs and preventing court time from being unnecessarily taken up with domestic arguments, a husband seeking a divorce must accept the right of his wife and children to remain in their family home.

Gulf News

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Most people still consider spousal abuse as a private family matter and avoid getting involved.
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