Lahj Governorate has recently witnessed an increasing phenomenon of “Gulf” foreigners marrying women in the governorate, through intermediaries who call themselves “khattab”. This phenomenon has become a source of great concern among families, given the social and family risks that may result from these ill-considered marriages.

Social specialists have confirmed that the marriage of foreigners to women from Lahj or elsewhere is a major cause of concern for these marriages because they often take place quickly without conducting adequate examinations or checking the background of the foreign husband. The speeches depend on attracting girls from poor or humble families, and tempting them with promises of a decent life, which may not be achieved after marriage. Many families who agreed to marry their daughters to foreigners through these intermediaries later discovered that their lives turned into suffering, as some husbands left the country after a short period without fulfilling any of their promises.

They added that one of the risks that arise from this type of marriage is the absence of any legal guarantees that protect the rights of wives in the event of the collapse of the relationship. In many cases, children resulting from these marriages are left without clear legal rights, which puts them in a vulnerable social situation, as they suffer from difficulties in obtaining official documents or social rights.

In addition, there are other risks related to cultural and linguistic compatibility between spouses, as some women find themselves in a life that is strange to them, which leads to family problems that ultimately lead to divorce or abandonment.

Speechwriters play a major role in promoting these marriages, as they exploit the needs of girls and their families to tempt them to marry foreigners in exchange for material promises or a better future. But often, these promises are not true, which further complicates the problem. In addition, many operators operate without any oversight or regulation, which increases chaos and makes it difficult to hold involved parties accountable when problems occur.

The marriage of foreigners of Gulf nationalities to Lahj women through letters constitutes a major social and legal threat, and instead of being a means to improve the lives of girls, they may end up suffering and deprived. Dealing with caution in these marriages and taking strict preventive and legal measures is the only way to protect the rights of women and families from these risks.