Being a ‘bad’ friend is now being treated as a crime in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A Saudi woman who advised her friend to leave her husband and find a better one has been charged 50,000 riyals by the Jeddah Criminal Court.
Lawyers described the court ruling as a ‘unique judicial precedent‘.
The Jeddah Criminal Court has ruled that the woman was ‘miscounseling her friend’ by urging her to leave her husband and find a better one. For that reason, she was charged a 50,000 Saudi riyals fine. The fine was paid to the husband of the defendant’s friend. The man she was advising her friend to leave.
ALSO READ
Saudi Arabia Ranks Higher Than Pakistan as the Best Country For Women
ARY reports that the Court advised spouses to accurately determine which advice they should or should not heed. Adding that friends may give bad advice out of jealousy. Hence spoiling a relationship.
According to court records, the woman also had to pledge that she won’t advise any married woman, irrespective of the motive.
Fined For Urging Friend to Leave Her Husband
The defendant indicated that she wanted nothing but the best for her friend.
Her friend’s husband sued her for destroying his marriage. He claimed compensation for the ‘damage’ he sustained due to the defendant’s advice.
He claimed that the woman defendant ‘badly counselled his wife and urged her not to obey him.’
“My wife’s friend incited my disobedience, by giving her advice that harmed our marital relationship.”
ALSO READ
Saudi Arabia ‘Renames’ Turkish Burger Over Political Tensions with Turkey
According to the appellant, his wife’s friend would urge her not to be a pushover.
“She used to tell my wife ‘You should find someone better for yourself. Show him who’s the boss. Don’t let them push you around’.”
Do you think the defendant was misguiding her friend? Was she rightly prosecuted? Let us know in the comments below.
