Riyadh (AsiaNews) – A Saudi couple forced to divorce by an Islamic court have appealed to the United Nations. The couple was forced to separate after one of her brothers persuaded judges that her husband's tribal group was not prestigious enough.

The case goes back two years and received wide coverage in the Saudi and Arab press but has had little effect on the situation. Since 2006 Fatima Azzaz and Mansour al-Timani have tried everything but to no avail.

Yakin Erturk, the UN's expert on violence against women, has become involved in the case. During a visit to Riyadh in February she got the authorities to promise her that they would review the case and that the couple would be allowed to reunite. Instead the authorities have repeatedly detained Mr Timani, warning him not to speak to the media, banning him from seeing his wife and two-year-old son.

Despite King Abdullah’s timid attempts at reform the case is one of a series that led human rights groups to criticise Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile the Saudi Gazette today looked at the complex problems non Saudi wives face in case of divorce.

Since Saudi law does not automatically grant Saudi citizenship to non-Saudi wives, the latter fear they will be required to leave the Kingdom without their children.

Aysha Saleh, a Syrian mother of six, told the newspaper that since her divorce she has not been able to see her children and is living under the constant fear of expulsion.

“The eldest is only 8 years and they still need the care of their mother,” Aysha Saleh said. But her husband refuses to let her stay in the Kingdom or take care of the children.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said it would examine the issue of divorced non-Saudi women. One proposal is to grant these women a residence permit tied to the upbringing of the children.

For the Social Affairs Ministry such a solution would not only benefit mothers but will also help in having more stable youth.