ABU DHABI // A woman sent an offensive text message to her husband because he did not show up to their wedding, the Appeals Court heard on Monday.
L A, an Emirati, said she did not use an insult in the message, she only wrote: “Hasebya Allah wa ne’ma al wakeel” which means: “Allah is the most sufficient for us and disposer of all things.”
“There were no prior disputes or problems whatsoever, everyone was ready for the wedding, and her family were doing preparations all day,” said the woman’s lawyer.
But the groom never showed up, giving no notice or reason.
“Can you imagine the state and embarrassment her family had to face, and the bride herself what she had to go through?” he said. “In our society if a groom is a no show it means either that the woman [was flawed], or that there has been a dispute. But there wasn’t any.”
When L A sent the groom, A M, the text message she was in a state of shock and emotionally traumatised, he added.
Despite the groom not appearing at the ceremony, the pair had already signed their marriage contract – making them husband and wife.
The First Instance Court had previously fined her Dh5,000 for the insult.
A verdict will be announced on November 10.
hdajani@thenational.ae