Saudi Arabia: In-laws call for divorce after wife kisses newborn camel

A man in Saudi Arabia was put under pressure to divorce his wife after his mother saw her daughter-in-law kissing a baby camel. The kiss reportedly took place at the family's farm west of the capital, Riyadh.

The woman said the kiss was innocent and spontaneous and happened simply because she was happy at the animal's birth. She said her mother-in-law was only angry because she had yet to give her a grandchild.

The mother-in-law said that her son should divorce his wife as she had transgressed social and religious norms. At first, he agreed, saying he could not disobey his mother. The woman went to live with her family but the next day she apologised to her husband who took her back. When his mother started calling again for divorce, he refused and went with his wife to live with her family.

According to Saudi newspaper, Sada, the woman was quoted as saying: "I love my husband and want to be with him forever...but I am not ready to live with his mother again."