Khalid Al-Sulaiman
I do not understand why is it necessary for the Shoura Council to convene its 150 members to discuss and vote on a decision granting women “family cards” and adjusting the civil status system. The situation only needs a quick fix. The way Civil Status offices are managed needs to be adjusted so that they issue two copies of the same family card - one for the husband and the other for the wife.
In case of divorce, the couple should simply drop the name of the other person from their card and keep their children’s names. I do not see a problem in having two cards as long as the children have the same civil status number.
This would solve many of the difficulties divorcees and separated women suffer, especially those women who have underage children and who struggle with absent or negligent spouses. This is definitely the case when there is a need for a personal ID card or for enrolling children in school. Issuing a family card to the mother will make it hard for those men who abuse their ex-partners.
Another problem that requires revision is the way divorced mothers or widows require their children’s consent to travel. These women cannot travel without the consent of a mahram (male guardian). In the case of a divorced or widowed woman who has no other male guardian, a young son who may still be in school can act as a mahram for his mother.
These women need the permission from their children who, until recently, took their mother’s permission to go to the store to buy chewing gum. It is unfair to leave the fate of a mature woman in the hands of young people who themselves need their mothers’ guidance and blessings.
