Bahrain court grants child custody to mom after dad's mental illness accusation foiled

TDT | Manama              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

After an intense court battle over the custody of their child, a 20-year-old mother emerged victorious despite facing accusations of mental instability from her husband. The husband had approached the Bahrain court seeking custody of the baby, arguing that his wife was mentally unfit and incapable of caring for their child. However, the court rejected his claims after verifying a medical report from a psychiatric clinic, which certified her as mentally sound.

Based on the medical report, the court ruled in favour of the wife, granting her custody of the child. Additionally, the court ordered the husband to pay more than BD2000 annually for both the wife's and their child’s expenses.

During the trial, the wife’s lawyer revealed that their client had been experiencing marital problems since the early stages of their marriage. These issues cropped up when the wife discovered her husband’s criminal records and multiple extramarital affairs.

Furthermore, the lawyer asserted that the man’s academic qualifications were fraudulent. The situation worsened with the birth of their child. The wife explained to the court that her husband began to torment her, pressuring her to accept his illicit relationships and inappropriate behaviour. Feeling unable to live life according to the man’s demands, she eventually decided to file for divorce.

The husband, in response, claimed that his wife had previously admitted to having mental health issues and being on psychiatric medication. He also accused her of threatening to harm the baby and asserted that she struggled with anger issues.

In turn, the wife filed a counter-lawsuit, demanding a divorce and financial support for herself and the child, as the husband had been unwilling to provide for them. The court carefully considered the evidence presented by both parties and ultimately ruled in favour of the mother, recognising her ability to care for the child and her rights to a stable life.