For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
A Saudi Arabian man has asked for a divorce from his new bride just two hours after the wedding after it emerged she had posted pictures of it on social media.
The unnamed groom broke up with his wife after learning she had sent pictures of the wedding to her friends on Snapchat in violation of a strict clause in their prenup which forbade sharing the images on social media.
The bride’s brother told Saudi newspaper Okaz: “There was a prenuptial agreement she would not use social-media applications such as Snapchat, Instagram or Twitter to post or send her pictures which she did sign.
The bride’s family reportedly argued that the husband was being too harsh but his family said he was entitled to call for a divorce.
Under Saudi law, men have the unilateral power to divorce their wives without any legal grounds – effectively immediately.
Women on the other hand need the consent of their husbands or the judiciary before dissolving a marriage and lose custody of their children if they are over a certain age.
10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses
Show all 10
The divorce rate in Saudi Arabia is high with over 50 per cent of marriages falling apart.
Around half of these divorces occurred among newlyweds, according to one Saudi legal expert.
Ahmad Al Maabi told the Daily Mail: “Misunderstandings, differences in views and the easy approach to marriage without a deep appreciation of the responsibilities are among the major causes for divorce among young people.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies