"You know that our religion detests it" "But since she's willing you've made a petition for divorce" "So, she agrees to separation" "I told her she must say it here" "What's your dispute about?" "I think he's mad." "He's been like this from the very beginning." "So you've no fundamental disagreement." "Your Honour" "This gentleman went to the police and accused me of having a telephone relationship with a man called Nasr Bakhshi" "The officer came to our house, I was eating with my sons, and asked me" ""Do you have a telephone relationship with Mr Bakhshi?"" "I said "Yes"" "He said "What kind of relationship?"" "I said "Between a niece and her uncle"" "The officer was really stunned" "He said "Is your husband mad to report such a thing?"" " Does he accept this now?" " It's in the file" "It's in the file, she has confessed" "Yes, I confessed I talked to my uncle" " She goes out without permission" " He's lying" "In the 30 years that I've lived with this gentleman I've not once left the house without his permission" "I've complied with every religious duty in my marriage" "I haven't put a foot wrong" "This man has made my life hell" "I can't even talk to my child, he's so suspicious" "You can change all this with good behaviour" "It doesn't work" "I've been making compromises for 30 years, obeying his wishes hoping he would trust and appreciate me but he doesn't understand at all" "All my love, all my compromises, he sees them as my duty and expects more" "We have a telephone in our house but I don't have the right to answer it even if it rings 100 times" "After the husband, the wife is the boss" "He says "When you hear what your rights are in Islam..." ""...you really will cry in pain" ""Your rights are to be fed so you don't starve..." ""...and to be clothed!"" " She's lying!" "God punish the liar!" "You must make yourself attractive so that he returns to your marriage" " You must tempt him back" " Why should I?" "Since he's the one applying for a divorce he's got the right to take you back" "He's the one who makes life difficult" "Once he's paid you compensation, he can divorce you" "You must make yourself pretty at home to stop the divorce from taking effect" "You must do something to win him back" "I don't want him at all!" "Your mediators will give their opinion" "They'll probably manage to reconcile you but if they advise separation once you're divorced, you must live together in the same house for 3 months and 10 days" "What if I don't want to?" "You have to." "You must live together" "What if he does something to me during that time?" " He might, you know," " Then you can demand a divorce" "Then I'll lose all my rights and compensation" "Not everything." "You'll only give up a small amount" "I wasted my youth and my life in this man's house" "Let's deal with compensation later" "You may never get that far" "My dear, you've too much make-up on" "Sit here and take it off" "Take your time" "Remove your lipstick properly, you've too much on" "It's last night's make-up; it won't come off" "Use cream" "Ladies, please move on" "If you've got handbags, come here" "You can go ahead" "She's got her own chador" " Do I look alright?" " Now you look like a real lady" "We might give them to someone else by mistake" "Anyone with cigarettes and mobile phones, come forward" "Could you lend me a chador?" "Yes, and wipe off the make-up" "I've only come to enquire about inheritance" "Have you only just started?" "You need to go to the Inheritance Division" "Wipe your lips too" "Here's a mirror" " Whose inheritance is it?" " My father's" "Can I go now?" "Would you please order the summons to be written?" "Are you asking for a divorce?" "Yes, I want a divorce" "My problem is children" "We've been together for about 5 years and couldn't have a child" "This was due to my husband, so I've initiated a divorce" "We're also incompatible" "Will he agree?" "He wants you back" "No, he refuses" "We also have cultural differences, the class gap between us is too wide" "What do you mean?" "We couldn't live together, our ideas were very different" "So he was due to go for a test?" "He didn't go but he does admit he has a problem a medical problem" "This is the letter to the police" "You have a copy" "It's an arrest warrant" "I know, but I didn't think it was right to use it" "Tell him, either he comes of his own accord or he'll be brought in" "I told him, but he says he'll only come if you order it" "Show him the letter, tell him if he doesn't come he'll be arrested" "He says he'll only come if you issue a summons" "I see, he hasn't done the test..." "The letter instructed him to do it" "He should have done it and brought back the results by now" "Ask Mrs Maher to write the summons" "I'm not trying to be difficult" "But the judge took my book to the other room yesterday and I couldn't find it all day, so I'm behind" "And I have to deliver the statistics by Saturday" "I want it done soon" "I'll do my best" " When is he required to come?" " I don't know" "Hasn't the date been set?" "I don't know." "It will have to be fixed" " Can you set it for this week?" " I doubt it" "We'll have to use the arrest warrant" "There's no date on it" " Thank you" " You're welcome" "Wait outside for 20 minutes" "I need to go to the Post Office before it closes" "I have to post a summons" "Alright, just wait outside" "Mr Bornadel, this is yours" " Mr Jamshidi, please find the file" " How?" "If you look for it, you'll find it." "Shall I help?" "That's not your job" "If a file isn't found in its place you must go and return in a week, when it's back in its place" "I want to start things off today" "When you ask for a file ten times a day, it's bound to get lost" "It doesn't make sense" "How can a file get lost?" "Mr Jamshidi has a problem" "He hasn't - your file has!" "It certainly does!" "You've always been so kind to me" "When a file's in its place, I can be kind" "Every time I asked for my file, you gave it to me" " What can I do if it's not there?" " You could search for it" "I can only search my own area" "Look, everyone has been looking for it, except you" "I search within my own area and that's it" "Shall I wait for you to look again?" "10 minutes more?" "This is not a 10-minute job." "When a file's mislaid, it can't be found" "You must come back in a week or 10 days..." "Shall I wait 10 minutes more?" "You're wasting your time as well as mine" "You turn my tea to poison when you stand over my head" "Enjoy your tea" "I'll come back tomorrow" "Should I wait?" "Another half hour maybe?" "Thank you very much" "He ordered you to have a medical test and you refused" "The document is over there, take it to the office" "Look at this document." "Ask him why he didn't go for a test" "Ask the office to give you the form and go for a test" " Even if he admits he has a problem?" " Maybe it's her problem" "You both go for the test then" "You see, Your Honour, she's got the form for my test" " It's in the file" " Here it is" "When do you want to go?" "We're ready to go now." "What shall we do?" "Go together." "Either live together properly or don't" "We don't want to live together" " Do you want to live with me?" " He does!" "But I don't!" "So this isn't our problem;" "she's the one who wants a divorce" "My brother here can't come to the court every day" "Let him speak for himself" "I'm a civil servant and I can't get out of the office every day" "So just give me the divorce" "It's her problem." "I wrote to you about her lack of respect for me" "He has sexual problems" "I found out on our wedding night but kept quiet, not to shame my family" "I cried all through our honeymoon;" "everywhere we went, I was in tears" " This man has sexual problems" " Here's the letter, Your Honour..." "Do you have sexual problems or not?" "I'm ashamed to say it, we didn't do anything on our wedding night" "Then I always had to make the first move" "It's not proper to say such things in public but I have to say it now" " Have you got a problem or not?" " Sir, this letter here..." "Does he or doesn't he?" "Please, sir, will you refer to the letter I sent you about her behaviour..." " Does he or doesn't he?" " Don't make a scene!" "Even if he has, your problem must be resolved in court" "You've hardly been married 5 years" "It's a marriage gift, not ransom money" "You never were a proper wife to him, you never made him happy" "So you don't deserve the gift money" "If you agree to give up the money we'll agree to a divorce this very moment" " So it's all about money?" " It's your problem" "Should I go with them?" "Yes, it's better if you go" " Your family threatened me!" " Don't make a scene!" "Sir, I can't live like this!" "I can't stand it any longer!" "Why did your family threaten me?" "Why do you shame my brother?" "Wasn't it your duty to protect me?" "Wasn't I part of the family?" "Are you a doctor to say he's got a sexual problem?" "She had no right to bring the police." "All the neighbours were watching!" "Go now or you'll get 5 days' detention" "We have no problem." "It's she who won't come for the test" "Why did your mother insult me?" "She called me a bastard" "It's really shameful" "Why did your mother insult me?" "I only came here to mediate..." "Your mother hit me, with a stick!" "We shouldn't discuss these things here" "We're going for the test, Your Honour" "Why did your mother call us names?" "I want to know how long it'll take to collect my marriage gift" "When I try to talk to him about it, he refuses to discuss money" "Just get your file from Mr Jamshidi" " How was school?" " Alright" " What did you learn?" " Nothing much" "Tell us anyway" "There's too much to tell" " It'll give you a headache" " Never mind, tell us" "Mama, we have to answer this." "Look..." "I've got to put my name there" "Don't put it in your pocket, give it to your mother to file" "No!" "He must take an insanity test" "He says he didn't slander you" "He accused me in front of witnesses" "Since he says he didn't, there's no point in witnesses..." "Why did he steal my gold?" " He'll buy you more" " I don't want any gold" "He must guarantee he won't hurt me" "He must have a medical examination to test his sanity and pay my marriage gift" "You've started an action for it, the file is ready" "Then there's his age" "He lied, he told me he was 27" " My birth certificate was in your house" " He's lying, I swear to God!" "He told me he was 27" "Fine, he'll give you all the guarantees you want" "He leaves me at my parents' house brings home rascals and villains and bottles of this and that and when I return, everything stinks of cigarettes" "He'll give up smoking or you can make a petition" "I've never smoked" "Sir, he goes out at night and if I complain he smashes the furniture" " Sir, I'm a driver" " That doesn't make any difference" "You should still come home at night whatever your job" "He pays the rent and that's all - he gives me nothing" "When I say something, he breaks the furniture." "He's insane, it's obvious" "He must go for a medical test" "This certificate proves I'm a driver - I travel abroad" "Don't show off - travelling abroad!" "Nobody's impressed!" "What medical test?" "A medical test to prove he's not mad" "He must give me a safety guarantee and then I want to study, and I have a right to because it's in my marriage contract that I'm a schoolgirl" "By the way, what's the legal age a girl can be married?" "When she reaches puberty" "There must be a legal age" "Agirl can reach puberty at 9 and then she can be married" ""Beating and bodily harm" Did you hit her?" "When?" " Last month, I mean, 2 months ago..." " You weren't even there then" " "There are bruises"" " Yes" "You left me 5 months ago!" "Never mind" " I'll withdraw my complaint" "Just say you agree to divorce by mutual consent" "Who did the abusing and the insulting?" "Who is Mrs Mahnaz Saidi?" "She's my uncle's wife" "She's my witness, she's a language teacher" "Would a language teacher use bad language?" "I didn't say she did!" ""They threatened to kill me, to set me on fire"" " Yes, they did!" " Who did this?" "My husband, he said he'd set me on fire if I try to claim my marriage gift" "Stop it, stop it... why are you lying?" "She's lying... one should always tell the truth" " Never mind that now..." " It's shameful to lie!" "We've agreed to a divorce by mutual consent" "For God's sake, agree, then I'll withdraw the complaint" " He's working on this file now" " Fine, I'll close it" " Will you agree to "mutual consent"?" " Alright, I will" "We have agreed to divorce by mutual consent" " We don't get on" " You're withdrawing this complaint?" "Yes, I withdraw it, provided he agrees to divorce" "He said he'd give his consent" "I never harassed her" "Do you have witnesses?" " Witnesses to what?" " The threats and the insults" "There's my mother, my sister;" "his uncle's wife, our landlord, his son" "Why won't you give up the gift?" "Well, at my age, it's my future." "I'm 16, my future has been ruined" "Me too." "I'm from the country." "My reputation has been damaged" "He was hurt, and I was hurt too." "We must both compromise" "I'm my parents' only son" "Serves you right for marrying a 14-year-old girl" "He made a mistake, so did I" "I mean, it was more my parents' mistake than mine" "But you agreed to the marriage" "I was like a doll" " I just said "yes"" "I know this now" "She's withdrawing her complaint" "The file will be closed" "Divorce by mutual consent!" "He's agreed!" "It's not them separating that worries me" "I'm afraid that if we insist and she goes back to her husband then in a year, 2 years, 5 years she'll come back with a child in her arms" "That really would be a curse on the family" "This girl grew up in Tehran, he in a small village" "He's used to land and tractors, she had her own city world" "She was going to school..." "For her, to leave school for a life with a man of 36..." "That's most unlikely" "She may go to university" "She may even decide to do without men altogether" "My own cousin - she hates men, she says "Who needs men?"" "Because she's suffered and sees all men as bad as each other" "I'm not going back to that life." "It's over" "I mean, if I have to go back, there'll be no Ziba in this world" "I really mean it" "My marriage gift is 4.5 million cash and 14 gold coins" "Right, I'll waive the 14 coins and half a million" "That leaves 4 million" "What do you say?" "Not that you can put a price on it" "That's my position" "I said she's welcome to come back" "If not, I'm not a callous person" "I'll help her because she's been part of my life and for the sake of your family" "I'll be hanged rather than be Bahman's wife again" "He's no longer my husband" "And if he goes by the Divine Law, he'll agree" "I'm forbidden to him and he's forbidden to me" "I stated my position on the settlement, now just state yours, wisely" "It's all over" "Yes, she says "I won't live with you, I don't love you"" "Why doesn't she want you?" "Let's leave it" "It's all over." "That's it!" "But he must say now what he's going to do about money" "You tell her!" "Tell me yourself!" "I want to hear it from you" ""I haven't any money!" So how come you've got a car worth 35 million?" "Yes, and 40 million in cash" "Then how come you can't pay me?" " The problem is, he lies" " Fine, then let him talk" "He'll be found out" "Why won't you grant me my legal rights?" "Don't you want to get a divorce?" "Why are you prolonging it?" "You say "I've no money"" "Did you find me in the gutter?" "Wasn't I a virgin?" "The way you talk!" "Mind your language!" ""I have no money to give!" Very funny!" "I've been damaged too" " Don't talk nonsense." "What damage?" " How much did it cost you?" "A billion won't buy back my good name" "I'd give you a billion if you could give her back to her father a virgin" "Be careful what you say!" "So I came here to pay..." "No, I mean be careful what you say" " Aren't I damaged too?" " Not at all" "You could go and marry another girl tomorrow, you're not damaged" "In my opinion, age isn't the problem" "I know many couples with an age difference of 25 years and more" "They're all happily married" "The problem with him is that he's been lying from the very beginning" "Because he lied then and he's lying now the foundation of your life is shaky like a ship on water" " It's not about age" " That's right, it's not about age" "It's because I don't love him and he doesn't love me" "He may say he does, but he doesn't" "I have no love for him" "I never had, not even at first" "And I said when we were engaged "Bahman, let's break it off now"" "He said "No, my reputation, my prestige, is at stake"" "I said "I'll marry you but I promise you our marriage won't last..." ""...because we're not compatible"" "Now it's all over, so just say what you have to say about the gift" "She's not entitled to it" " Wrong!" " You're not!" "Even if you are, there's nothing you can take from me" "The car isn't in my name" "But out of the goodness of my heart I'm prepared to help you" "Help me?" "Am I an orphan, am I poor that you need to "help" me?" "It's your duty to pay the money" "Uncle, leave it!" "I'll take legal action and recover my money to the last penny" "Be quiet, Ziba, let your uncle talk" " I'll show him!" " Be quiet!" "Allah is great!" "Let us speak for you!" "Why did you invite us here?" "Well, she's stated her position" "That's what she wants" "Can she get it?" "If you ask me, no" "Whatever happens, for me it's a disaster" "You've come out of this untouched" "You haven't been degraded" "I'm the one who's been shamed" " Go and think about it, my dear" " Alright" "Let's not waste each other's time" "It's my family that has to deal with the shame of this divorce" "Your husband is not a bad man" "Sir, he lied to me about his age" "If you'd married someone your own age, he might have been even worse" "He could have been an addict" "I know, Your Honour, but he's not a man I can live with" " How do you know?" " Sir, I lived with him" "I know what he did to me" "He can make you happy" "There's no way he can do that..." "I'll re-start my petition" "Go and do it in the office" "She says she doesn't want to live with me, that she doesn't love me that she doesn't want the marriage, that we have age difference" "I said "Alright"." "Now she says "Give me half the money"" "I said I'll help her for the love of God" "How much can you pay?" "Whatever you say" "Whatever I can afford" " What's your job?" " I'm a driver" "Agree to a sum within your means" "What have your arbiters said?" "They say she's not entitled to anything" "That's not true." "Once the contract is signed, the gift is the man's debt" "A girl can demand and get it even before the marriage is consummated" " But she left 5 months ago" " You must reach an agreement" "I'm paying rent for the house but she won't live with me" "Sir, my file's been mislaid" "This is his petition for my return to the marital home" "This case is not scheduled for today" "I'd like my file, No.1532" "1532 is not in your name." "That's the wrong number" "I've taken action to recover my money and I'll get it" " Will he pay?" " No" "He refuses to pay but he will, eventually" " Will you give it up for a divorce?" " No!" "It could take years" "However long it takes, 10, even 20 years" " Ziba who?" " Ali Hosseinpour" "Why don't you get on?" "You've been married 2 years" "Sir, I would have lived in one room, but he didn't even provide that" "He kept on saying "I will, I will..."" "But then he took another wife." "I'm no use to him any more" "Did he remarry the mother of his children?" "Yes, he took back his first wife" "I didn't need such a husband" "I had a job with a good salary." "I can show you the records" "Now the management's changed and they say "Why did you leave?"" "I left my job to look after the children you had with your first wife" "I'll never forgive you for this" "That's no way to talk" "You lived together for a while, can't you come to an agreement?" "What agreement?" "He doesn't need me now." "My life's ruined" "He's got two wives, so what?" "He's agreed to return to his first wife and give me my marriage gift" "I asked her to come back" "Where to?" "To my father's house?" "There are 3 or 4 rooms in the house." "I said she could have one of them" "She said "No, I want my own place"." "I said "I can't afford it right now"" "No, two co-wives can't live in the same house" "But, sir, we have two rooms." "She could live in one of them" "It's still in the same house" "I didn't need your money" "Well, did you reach an agreement?" "No, Your Honour" "Either live together in peace or separate" "Your Honour, I promise to go to work this week" "Then I'll bring 5 elders to her father's house and give an undertaking" "I love them." "I'll keep my word." "Whatever she says, I'll agree" "I'll give you an undertaking today" "I'll start working on Saturday" "I can't accept that!" "Your Honour, don't do this to us" "Let our children be in peace, he can't live with us" "Do you have proof of his threats?" "Yes, the neighbours saw it all that night" "First he threatened to hit me and then my son came" "My son warned him not to hit his mother" "Then he got out a knife and said he'd slit my stomach" "Look, Your Honour" "I didn't always look like this, God knows" "I can show you my pictures" "Where do you sleep when you don't go home?" "I sleep in the park" "Why?" "We've been arguing at home, I've been depressed because I'm unemployed" " Which park?" " A public park" "You sleep out in the cold?" "Your Honour, if you'd spent the night in the park would you come home freshly bathed, with clean underwear?" "I get covered in dust if I sweep the floor, he comes home spotlessly clean" "I've got 4 children and now I must put them first" "God knows, ladies" "How many months since he's paid maintenance?" "Six months" " I've been out of work." " He says he can't work" "Why?" "You must work, you're a young man" "I said I'll go to work on Saturday" "Jamileh, what are you writing?" "I thought we had an agreement" "I'll start working on Saturday" "You wanted me to bring 5 elders to your father's house, right?" "That's what you just said, out there" " Jamileh, don't do it!" " No, let's finish it once and for all" "Listen to me, I'll bring some elders." "Hold on, please." "Wait!" "Absolutely not!" "No way!" "I swear on my father's grave, if I ever do this again you can do what you want with me" "Madam, accept it" "If he doesn't work or gives you trouble you can make another complaint and he'll be sentenced to 5 months" "Do it, I'll give a guarantee" "Sir, he must give me his promise" "He must write that he'll come to my father's house with 5 elders" " And if he doesn't..." " I will." "I swear on my father's grave" "He's learnt his lesson" "Your Honour, this is what I want:" "Once he starts working again, he must come home straight after work" "He used to leave us at night." "I had to do everything myself" "The children went hungry" "Ask the neighbours" "As to your hitting the boy, there's compensation to pay for the bruise" " Was there only this one bruise?" " Yes" "Your Honour, my son and I are friends, we go to football together" "I was angry, he pushed me" "I'm a father, I didn't expect such a thing, so I slapped him" "We play football together, we're very close" "You must pay compensation" "You must write here that this afternoon, you'll come with 5 elders" "Then write "I guarantee I'll work and not be disrespectful to my wife"" "I'm a woman, I too have my reputation" "He insults me in front of the neighbours;" "I'm a woman, I have my pride" "What does this mean?" "It's if you have another name" "He's giving an undertaking" "My son says his father will just do it all over again if he comes back" "Did I ever do such things to you before?" "Weren't we friends?" "You're my son, remember that, you should have more respect" "Soon you'll have children of your own" "Your Honour, what shall I write?" "Write that you withdraw your complaint given that he has undertaken not to do wrong and to make you happy from now on" "And end it: "Therefore I declare my withdrawal of this complaint"" "I love you very much" "I feel sorry for him." "Last night I couldn't sleep all night, thinking of him" "I love him very, very much" "I was in love with him, I threw my life at his feet" "No woman does for her husband what I do to please him" "When I get some money, I buy him nuts and sweets because I know he likes it when he watches TV" "I only wish he would respect me" "If I respect him, he should respect me" "He shouldn't abandon me, all week, just thinking about himself" "Aren't I a person too, don't I want a life?" "God knows, I don't expect much only that he'd come home and be mine" "A man gets jealous" "And if somebody says something to his wife he wants to tear that man apart" "But a woman gets jealous too if someone looks at her man" "Of course she'll get upset when she sees him with another woman" "Last night I slept next to some addicts" "That should teach him" "They were all throwing up on the floor - I was going crazy" "I was on my own for 6 months." "He came home only for the weekends" "Thursdays at 2.00 and then off again on Saturday" "Now that's all over" "Silence!" "The court is in session" "Silence!" "The court is in session" "Mr Defendant" "The defendant has not come" "Silence!" "Be quiet!" "Lady, why are you getting so upset?" "Let me put my turban on" "Mr Defendant!" "She's done nothing wrong." "You shouldn't treat her like that" "The lady was sitting quietly and reading, and you hit her" "The lady wasn't doing anything to you and that day she was especially kind to you, she made you tea" "How do I know these things?" "Because I followed you and I saw it all" "This is very bad" "Silence!" "When a woman is trying so hard to live with you and be respectful why do you treat her badly and disrespect her?" "Is this the proper way to behave?" "Now you admit it isn't right, why do you keep on doing it?" "Do you think it's right?" "I saw what other marriages were like" "Perhaps my father was right that for the children's sake I shouldn't divorce" "But he wasn't thinking about what young people want nowadays" "He has old-fashioned ideas" "My father arranged my marriage with the father of my children" "It was his decision" " How old were you?" " I was 14 when I got married... ." "...and I was 15 when my first daughter, Mona, was born" "I knew nothing" "When you come to Tehran, your eyes and ears are opened" " Where did you come from?" " From the country" "When I came to Tehran, my whole outlook changed" "I saw what I was and what I had become" "I thought "Why have I made such a marriage?"" "I was ignorant, I didn't know anything" "What about Mohammed?" "He's good-tempered, a real family man" "He loves children" "He shares whatever he earns with the family" "He talks about what he sees outside" "He talks a lot, he makes me laugh" "The other one wasn't like that" "He went out to work, cared about nothing but money" "He said that it was enough to feed us" "But food alone doesn't make a marriage" "After all, a woman wants love" "She expects affection from her husband" "The same goes for a man." "What does he want from his wife?" "Affection, attention, showing she cares" "I wasn't sane, I ran around like a mad person" "She gave up all her rights to get a divorce" "She said "I only want a divorce"." "She didn't even ask for visiting rights" "Yes, I really was mad..." "I used to bang my head against the wall" "I was in a terrible state, I wasn't myself" "She gave up all her rights." "Now she regrets it and says "I want my child"" "Legally the child belongs to the father now" "This child's been with me for 4 months" "Won't the court make him pay child maintenance meanwhile?" "The court says "Hand the child over"" "The court gave me the child" "Yes, for the child's sake, you came here and insisted on it" "But now you've remarried, you must give her to the father" "Alright, I have 20 days" "You can do it today, or up to 20 days from now" "Mrs Maher, what can she do to keep the child?" "Nothing without her husband's consent" " Are you asking for custody?" " Yes" "Go and find him in the corridor and we'll deal with your case today" "He hasn't come to see the child for 10 weeks" "He hasn't asked once about the child" "How can he have custody?" "He's got my elder daughter." "She goes to the cinema with a neighbour" "Her grades have fallen;" "all her lessons are suffering" "Aweek ago I went to collect her from school" "The head teacher told me her father says "Let her fail!"" "If he comes to take the child from you, get a receipt" "If not, keep the child" " What about the child's maintenance?" " He must pay it" " But he won't" " He was around here somewhere" "Come!" "You must take the child in a legal manner" "I won't pay her maintenance, Your Honour" "Right, this case is over" "But, Your Honour, she's remarried, so she must hand the child back" "She will" "She's taken the older one too" "Only for two weeks, I've been helping her with her lessons" "I won't allow it any more" "But she's 11 and can decide for herself" "The Order is written and we'll send it to you" " Can she take the child now?" " Yes, she's in my charge for now" "You can't take the child without an Order" "I won't let the older one visit her" "The older one is 11, legally she can decide for herself" "It's up to the girl now" "Do I let her take the child?" "Listen to what he says!" "When she was with her mother her grades improved." "With you, they're terrible" "She's taken the girl to her new husband and told her to call him "Daddy"!" "If you have custody of a child, you must bring her up properly" "She teaches her bad manners, she allows her to be fussy with food and to make life difficult for my new wife" "Why did the girl's grades suffer when she was with you?" "School isn't important." "I'll send the kids to the country with my new wife" "The court would never let you" "Off you go, stop arguing!" "Now she says her child is falling behind at school and wants her mother" "This woman should be told she has no maternal feelings" "She's ruined her children's lives just for lust" "Is it only mothers who have to suffer?" "Women want happiness too" "It was just lust!" "It was lust that made her do these things" "I myself, I'll tell you the truth..." "I married for lust!" "But I've sacrificed everything for my child" "You used to talk about marriage." "Are you still thinking about it?" "Is Paniz thinking of marriage?" "Yes." "She was asking me what she should do so that she wouldn't end up with the kind of rubbish men who come here" "Some time ago, she decided to marry a clerical student, a serious boy who knew how to live properly and correctly." "Isn't that so, Paniz?" "Wasn't this what you wanted?" "I didn't want to marry" "There was a student here..." "I knew I shouldn't marry ever since I saw these things in court, what husbands are like" "It started then" "She tricked me." "She said if I divorced my new wife she'd come back" "I petitioned for divorce and sent my wife away and she came to the house and took all my things" "Now I've got an Order to get it all back" "She didn't come back?" "She tricked me." "She took loads of stuff and gave it to that man" " You want the child too?" " That's right" " Is the other one with you?" " Yes" "I want the child" "Nothing can be done now" "My child will learn bad things in that time" "She's been bringing her to court for nine months" "She'll get spoiled" "We can't help that" "We asked if she'd take the Order and she told us to send it" "The girl will end up like her mother" "The legal process must take its course" "Your Honour, I won't give up the child" "Look at this, you wrote it yourself" "Last week he hit me in front of everybody" "I can bring witnesses" "I won't give up my child" "If someone like Your Excellence tells me I can't have my child I'll divorce my second husband but I won't give up my child" "I've only been married for two weeks" " Your file isn't here" " You've sent it on" " Shall I fetch it?" "Which section?" " Court No.5" "She says she'll get a divorce so that she can keep the child" "I won't let her" "She wants to divorce that husband so she can keep the child" " I won't give the child up" " It's nothing to do with us" "Your file has been sent for" " Is she going to divorce him?" " I don't know" "She says if necessary she'll even get a divorce" "That's his file" "The child is yours" " Have you got my file?" " It's over there" "I won't give the child up!" "He owes me six months' child maintenance" "Have this argument outside" "I won't give her up, no matter what" "No way, certainly not now!" "I have two months!" "I'll never give you the child;" "I'd rather kill her, throw her under a car" "God couldn't take the child from me, how could you?" "She's stupid and immoral!" "It's you who's stupid and shameless!" "You're not fit to be a mother." "You're a loose woman" "Are you so virtuous?" "I won't give you the child" "Never!" "I'll never let you have the child and I'll take the other one too" "By Ali, by Zahra's honour, I'll take the other one" "She's torn the Order" "Inform Security downstairs to stop her" "She'll be jailed for five days" "Go down before she escapes." "Say she's detained" "She also tore the house deeds" "Hurry up and tell the guards to stop her" "By God, I swear, I didn't do it." "He's lying!" "You're arrested and you'll be jailed for 5 days" " I swear I've done nothing; he's lying" " So who tore it?" "Not me." "He did it himself!" "I didn't tear the Order up" "Let him find 4 witnesses" "He accused me of being a whore, of going out with different men" "Won't you punish him for accusing me of sleeping around?" "I shouldn't be saying such things to you, sir" " When did he say this?" " Just now!" "He said it in front of the whole world" " If this is proved, he'll get 70 lashes" " I'll bring witnesses" "I came at once and told this lady" "You must file a formal complaint" "He's lying!" "This isn't the first time you've caused a scene in my court" "Anyone who makes a scene in court gets 5 days' detention" " But he called me a whore" " You can file a complaint" "Wait outside until he brings his witnesses" "I got angry because he said I'd had a lover for a year" "I got angry and tore it up" "I swear to God, I won't give him the child" "He wants me to divorce my new husband" " Get a divorce, then" " And go back to that bumpkin?" " He's a junkie!" " Don't marry him then;" "live alone" " What for?" "Why should I?" " Think of the children" "My new husband's a young man, not a toy for me to play with" "Sacrifice yourself for your children" "If the court gives me such an Order, I'll be ruled by it" "I'll divorce him, take back my two children and disappear" "Let him get you a house and keep your children" " He wants me back;" "I don't want him" " Fine, then he'll pay for you" "No." "I can work and keep myself and the children." "I'm not a cripple" "The children are the ones who'll pay the price" "They'll suffer, not you" "When you're a mother, you must sacrifice everything" "The witness says "Have pity on her"" "Now take the child and go to the Enforcement Section" " She won't give me the child" " It's not up to her." "They'll take it" "Whenever you come here, you make a scene" "You've no right to keep the child" "Sir, what right did he have to accuse me of sleeping around for a year?" "If you can prove this, he'll get 70 lashes" "Sir, this man was there" "What you have done is contempt of court" "I wouldn't show disrespect" "If a teacher gives you a low grade and you tear it up, that's disrespectful" "He's lying, I didn't tear it up" "You yourself are saying you won't give the child up" "But it is not up to you." "The child belongs to him and there's an Order" "How can you say you won't hand it over?" "I told him the judge let me keep the child and I wouldn't give him the child now" "You must get his consent and you are in detention" " He wants to break me" " Contempt of court is unpardonable" "I'd never do such a thing" "Enough, we have other cases to deal with" "Two months?" "Please go" "You ask him..." "Sir, do we take her to the detention centre?" "Yes, but for one day, not five" "One day in detention, that's enough" " They'll give the child to her father" " No, don't" "The child goes to the father" "Let her stay with me until the court day" "Fine, but we can't have you making a scene whenever you want" "He's insulted a newly married woman in front of all those people out there" " Won't you say anything to him?" " When you've proved that he did" "Shall I fetch witnesses, sir?" "There's also these film ladies" "If these ladies will testify, that'll be acceptable" "I'll get the witnesses" "Did she tear up the Order when you were there?" "No, we didn't see it" "He's lying" "He's trying to get me into trouble." "I said I won't give her up for another 2 months" " Did you see her tear up the Order?" " No, we didn't" "He was lying, I would never insult the court" "If that's the case, you're free to go" "But as regards the child, you can't say you won't give it up" "If you refuse to hand it over and he files a complaint you'll be sentenced to imprisonment or a fine." "It's up to you" "Go now, this time we'll pardon you" "I'm going to make a new petition that I was in a bad state" " You can make a petition" " Thank you, sir" " We'll deal with it then" " Thank you" "Anyone who makes a scene in court must be detained" "We wanted to detain her for a day but we saw she was sorry" "She's not normal... she's a troublemaker" "She came here early this morning, refusing to hand the child over" "We'll see when she gets the final decision whether she's learned her lesson or not" "Didn't you detain her?" "Sir, she kicked me in court, she punched me... she'll make another scene" "Alright, she says you have said improper things about her" "Never!" "But she won't give me my daughters" "You can make a complaint." "She has to hand over the child otherwise she'll be imprisoned or fined" "For God's sake, I was in a terrible state" "You remarried, and when you remarry you lose your child" "For God's sake, I made a petition but the Order has already been issued" "You could at least give me one of them." "I lost everything" "Go now and live with your new husband" "I can't, Your Honour" "All last night, I was talking to you and pleading with you, sir" "I was asking you to give me one of them at least" "For God's sake, Your Honour..." "For the sake of your own children, please let me keep this one" "Won't you please do something?" "I'll go mad without her" " At least let one of them be with me" " We must get on with the next case" " For God's sake, sir..." " We've nothing more to say" "Let me have this one!" "I'll go mad, sir... please, just look at the child, she's only 4 and a half" "In God's name, have some mercy, let me have her" "He's never at home..." "He goes to work in the morning and comes back late at night" "Everybody out!" "Clear the court!" "You too!" "Will you talk to him?" "Will you ask him to let me have the child?" "We have nothing more to say to you, go now" "Please, sir, for the sake of the child..." "I cried all night, holding her in my arms" "May I wait outside?" "Please, for God's sake..." "Do you want to be detained again?" "I was pleading with you all night..." "I want her" "Go now, go!" " May I wait outside?" " Just go!"