Unhappily ever after

Choosing a spouse is a very personal decision and should definitely not be the business of the state. However, in some countries the government very much has a say in who citizens can or cannot marry. Saudi Arabia is one of them. In a report on Wednesday quoting a Saudi newspaper, it was mentioned that the authorities in the desert kingdom have banned Saudi men from marrying women from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chad and Myanmar. The report says there are around 500,000 women from these countries currently living in Saudi Arabia. The rules have also been toughened for Saudi men wanting to marry women from other nationalities. As outdated as such rules may seem to an outsider, especially in the modern age when inter-cultural unions have grown increasingly common, those familiar with Saudi Arabia will not be surprised. After all, despite its immense oil wealth the kingdom remains at heart a tribal society and such moves are likely dictated by fears of being ‘overwhelmed’ by foreigners. For example, any Saudi who marries a foreign spouse without government approval faces stiff monetary fines. Also, children of Saudi mothers with foreign partners may be denied state benefits while only very recently were foreign wives of Saudi men given access to social services. Every country has a right to frame citizenship laws, but such restrictions on marriage appear exceedingly harsh. Saudi authorities may justify the restrictions in order to protect their culture and values, but despite the strictures, reportedly thousands of Saudi men and women contract marriage with foreigners every year. It is very difficult for any country to live in isolation anymore. The relentless march of globalisation and the communications revolution have brought down many barriers dividing people. The Saudi government should consider revising the marriage restrictions as culture and values cannot be protected through tough laws, but may flourish in an atmosphere of liberty and openness, while preventing demographic changes will be difficult for even the most controlled of societies. Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2014