Turkish soap opera blamed for UAE divorces

The UAE leads Gulf nations in divorce rates even as officials confirm an increase in percentage of family disputes registered in courts. Interestingly, experts blame addiction to television programmes as one of the reasons to increasing family disputes in the Emirates.

A Turkish soap opera, which has caught the fancy of housewives in Ras Al Khaimah, is being blamed for family disputes. Jassim Al-Maki, Head of Reform and Family Guidance Service, Ras Al Khaimah court, said Turkish TV serials are giving rise to differences in opinion among couples in family.

'Al Bayan' quoted him as saying that the department finds TV serials not accomodating the culture and tradition of the Arabian Gulf and carried wrong messages. He said, in accordance with the number of complaints received by the deparmtment, it is clear that most women who watched these serials neglected their families.

Wedad Lootah, Counsellor at the Family Guidance Department, Dubai Courts, said the department is organising awareness campaign and free counselling to estranged couples.

E’atidal Shamsi, who is involved with rehabilitation of young couples and is associated with 'E’adad'programme, said the UAE leads the Gulf in divorce rates.

Meanwhile, Habiba Al Hawsani, Acting Director-General of the Marriage Fund told 'Emarat Al Youm' that an awareness campaign for Emiratis has been launched to encourage constructive dialogue and stress on family stability. She added that dialogue is the only way to resolve family disputes.

Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Hammadi, Head of Family Disputes Department, Dubai Courts, confirmed there is a 10 per cent annual increase in cases relating to personal issues. At least 20 cases of family disputes are received every day.

According to a field study conducted by the Marriage Fund most women who divorced by the age of 40 were married early - between 15 and 29 years, reported 'Emarat Al Youm'.

Majority of divorced women (71 per cent) were mothers and housewives and 70 per cent were uneducated and unable to support themselves. 

The study revealed that 30 per cent of husbands divorced their wives because they cannot cope with their financial demands. While 64 per cent divorced wives claim negligence of husbands forced them to end the relationship.

Meanwhile, 59 per cent men and 46 per cent women said they ended their relationships because of outside influence such as intervention by parents in their lives, 43 per cent divorced women blamed it on infertility.
 
The study urged competent authorities to organise more awareness campaigns and educate couples apart from giving girls the freedom to choose their partners with guidance.

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