Jeddah, Jul 29(Arab News): At least 200 Saudi women were permitted by courts to travel without guardians once or several times for the purpose of study, treatment or tourism.

More than 350 Saudi women had applied for travel permission in cases where they have custody of children or no longer have guardians.

The Human Rights Society received complaints and requests for intervention from 100 women who had been denied permission to travel by their guardians or ex-husbands.

Other requests were filed by widows whose sons denied them permission to travel.

Article 8 of the Travel Documents Regulations stipulates that a Saudi woman is to be granted a passport and, in the case of husband’s death, a legal document indicating the legal guardian is needed for travel.
Over 100 requests were filed with the Family Court by women in Jeddah alone.

The court requires two witnesses and it verifies the purpose of travel before granting permission. If there is no legal guardian, regulations stipulate that the woman is to be issued a passport in her region.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry is preparing to launch the electronic marriage contracts early next year.
The system, to be implemented in coordination with the national information system, will allow for marriage contracts to be authenticated at ministry courts immediately after being completed by the ma’zoun (sheikh overseeing the wedding).

Fingerprints of parties involved will be authenticated immediately, thus eliminating any potential contractual issues.

Legal sources say the system aims to “protect the rights of women, facilitate procedures, and prove their rights concerning inheritance and husbands’ non-compliance with the marriage contracts”.
Judges will be able to identify the rights and entitlements of women and other conditions stipulated in the marriage contract, such as marriage dowry, employment and other matters.

Lawyer and legal advisor Yousef Al-Jabr said implementation of the e-marriage contract is a strategic move that eliminates excessive amount of paperwork and maintains important information.

The new system will also help guarantee that contracts are properly written, as per the regulations, and in legible script, and are easily accessible if needed.