http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=66500&d=6&m=7&y=2005
Wednesday, 6, July, 2005 (29, Jumada al-Ula, 1426)
I Might Not See My Son Again, Cries Japanese Mother
Maha Akeel, Arab News
JEDDAH, 6 July 2005 - Denied justice, unable to spend time
with her son and frustrated by Saudi bureaucracy, Hiroe has returned to Japan,
disappointed and heartbroken.
In April, Arab News reported the story of Hiroe, a Japanese
woman, whose Saudi husband kidnapped their seven-year-old son two years ago,
brought him to the Kingdom and divorced her without her knowledge. Since then
she has had to fight for her right to enter the Kingdom and see her son.
Hiroe filed a lawsuit and since the Saudi courts would not
grant her custody, her lawyer advised her to ask for the right to see her son
and for financial compensation for the years she supported the family while it
was living in Japan.
The judge was sympathetic and granted her the right to see
her son every three months; because of her lawyer's efforts, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs agreed to issue her entry visas valid for two weeks without the
need for a sponsor.
So far might sound so good - but in addition to having to
take time off from her job and bear the costs of travel and accommodation, her
ex-husband continues to deny her the right to see her son and pay her alimony.
Every time she comes, her ex-husband, Wasef, wastes her precious time with
delaying tactics before allowing her to see her son and spend time with him.
During her visit last week, she was able to spend only
half-an-hour with her son. Wasef also tried another trick. He has been trying
to get a letter from the Japanese Consulate holding it responsible if Hiroe
manages to flee the country with her son. The consulate has of course refused
to write such a letter since it is beyond the limits of their responsibility
and also because they do not interfere in personal matters.
For Hiroe's last visit, Wasef managed to get a letter from
the office of Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal ibn Majed. The letter was
forwarded to the Japanese Consulate for appropriate action. It suggests that
the consulate try to mediate between the two parties in order to solve the
problem amicably and that the handing over of the boy to his mother during her
visits be conducted through the consulate.
"The letter was not an order but a suggestion. The problem is
that it sidelines the police authority to execute the court order and made it
the job of the consulate - and this is not a normal part of a consulate's job,"
said Hiroe's lawyer Bassam Al-Hussaini from the Law Office of Dr. Khalid
Al-Nowaisser.
Once the judge had ruled that Hiroe could see her son and
whenever Wasef delayed complying with that ruling when she came here, the
police were able to force him to bring her son to her. Now with this letter
which the police have a copy of, they cannot.
"In getting this letter, Wasef gave erroneous information and
made false accusations. We have two options to override the letter: To write to
the prince and clarify the matter, especially since the consulate has no power
or obligation in such matters, or to ask the consulate itself to write to the
prince," said Al-Hussaini.
The consulate has not yet responded to the letter and it
refused to comment on the issue, stating that the matter was a personal one and
that the consulate does not intervene in such matters. It has, however, offered
Hiroe as much support and assistance as it can.
"All these procedures take time and unfortunately the
circumstances are against her. We are still pursuing her financial rights but
there is little chance of getting fair compensation. As for seeing her son,
again our bureaucratic system and the father's lack of cooperation make things
difficult. Her best choice is to try to reach an agreement with Wasef because I
expect the lawsuit to drag on for another two years and he will continue to
cause trouble," said Al-Hussaini.
"There is now no one to enforce the court order against my
ex-husband. The order is in fact now invalid," said Hiroe in despair. "Until
the Japanese Consulate gives an official answer to the Saudi Foreign Ministry
and to the prince's office so that the police can handle my case, I might never
be able to see my son. My ex-husband brought him to my hotel for only 30
minutes. He did not even allow my son to answer my phone calls so I could say,
'Goodbye and see you again.'"
On her last visit, she was supposed to have had a court
hearing but the judge postponed it because of a mistake in the documents. "I'm
disappointed in the courts. It is not fair for a woman in my situation. Why do
I have to pay such a price?"
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