A woman in Saudi Arabia cannot marry without the consent of her guardian - father or brothers. Any Saudi woman of any age must have a guardian.
The Okaz reported that three women aged 36, 39 and 40 had repeatedly asked their father to let them marry, but he had refused to give his consent. The first court the women turned to refused their plea.
But a higher Shariah appeals court in Mecca allowed them to marry "honest men" who follow religious instructions, which cost their stubborn father his life.
Fathers reject the bridegrooms of their daughters because they are either not satisfied with the claimants' social or financial status, or insist that the son-in-law should be a member of the native clan or tribe, or just don't want to lose a free housemaid.
As a result, over 1.5 million Saudi women aged over 30 are not married.
