Clampdown on live-in couples in Sharjah

Sharjah police has launched a comprehensive campaign to track down all illicit relationships in the emirate.

According to a press release on Wednesday, the police said the campaign started on Monday and within two days, they had already arrested one couple residing in Al 
Qadissiya area.

The police said they are identifying areas having many ‘illegal’ residents and ‘couples’ staying together without being married. The police would storm the area and seek identification papers and marriage certificates.

“Eventually, we managed to find a couple — an Arab man and an Asian woman — illegally staying together. They also have two children — one aged four and the other two,” the release said.

When the man was questioned, he confessed to staying with the woman illegally as husband and wife even though they have never formalised their marriage.

The police have referred the couple to Sharjah Public Prosecution.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com