JEDDAH: Enforcement courts have ordered more than 7,000 divorced fathers to pay around SR180 million ($48 million) to their children in the past 12 months. Courts have also warned those who delay or avoid payments that there are strict procedures to guarantee the rights of children. A business intelligence platform showed that Makkah region was the city with the highest number of alimony applications (2,657) with the value of SR38.5 million, followed by Riyadh (1,870 applications), valued at SR43.5 million, and Eastern province (969). The Saudi Ministry of Justice and the supreme judicial council have taken steps to support children in custody and to ensure speedy settlements for them after parents have separated. The ministry previously said that not paying alimony to children is considered both an act of violence and against child protection law in Saudi Arabia, and those who evade alimony payments will face penalties.