WEDDING CHANNEL AFRICA

A young Saudi woman lost a judicial battle to marry her partner because the court deemed him religiously unfit because he is a musician and he plays instruments, a Saudi newspaper reported Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia requires women to seek permission from male “guardians”; either their fathers, husbands or other male relatives — to travel, get married amongst other things and In some parts, a man who plays a musical instrument is considered inferior and having a bad reputation.

Two years ago her partner, a teacher, asked for her hand in marriage. She is a 38-year-old bank manager from the ultra-conservative region of Qassim, north of the capital Riyadh, Okaz newspapersaid; But her family refused, stating that he was not “religiously compatible” with her because he played the oud, an oriental flute which is popular across the Arab countries.

The woman decided to fight for her rights to love in court.

A lower court weighed in on the side of the family, saying the marriage could not go through. “Because the suitor plays a musical instrument he is unsuitable for the woman from a religious point of view,” the court said, according to Okaz.

An appeals court ratified the verdict, making it final, the newspaper added.

The woman told Okaz she will seek intervention from the country’s “highest authorities” — a reference to the royal court.

The bank manager, who holds a masters degree and is responsible for more than 300 employees, said she was determined to marry her suitor, describing him as “very pious and with a good reputation”.

Saudi Arabia, a major US ally, has introduced a string of reforms over the past year aimed at improving the kingdom’s image, including ending a longstanding ban on women driving.

But it continues to face criticism over the male guardianship system which allows men to exercise arbitrary authority to make decisions on behalf of their female relatives.