'I divorce you' SMS troubles PM - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Tandem · 07-29-2003, 06:10 PM

As a follow up to this post : http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=19215

A row over a Malaysian court ruling that Muslim men can divorce their wives with text messages has outraged women's groups and puzzled the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says he does not like the idea of divorce by the popular short messaging system (SMS).

"Nowadays we can even divorce our wife by sending messages," he said while launching Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson's $21 million regional expertise hub in Malaysia's special Multimedia Super Corridor development zone.

"I am not so keen on that but they say it is perfectly legal, perfectly Islamic.

"I think that if people want to divorce their wife, they should resort to a much more personal approach than that," he said.

"We hope of course that instead of sending messages, you should look at the beautiful wife that you're going to divorce ... maybe she would cry a bit and you would change your mind."

Women's groups have had stronger words for the decision by an Islamic Sharia court last week that a man's pronouncement of divorce via SMS was valid.

Women's Aid Organisation director Ivy Josiah said the method was "distant, cowardly, undignified and rude".

A Muslim man can end his marriage by telling his wife "I divorce you" three times.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed the Islamic Advancement Department to verify the method of SMS divorce.

"I can understand why the women are very worried," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

"There's possibility of being duped through SMS.

"There may be fraud because a short service message can be sent by anyone.

"[We] don't face [them] so we don't know, so the doubt arises. It's alright with a letter because there's a signature."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s913265.htm

Ralvek · 07-29-2003, 06:23 PM

I heard a story on the readi othis morning about a man and after the wedding at the reception his brother-in-law asked him to pose with his new wife for a picture. This offended him because some Muslims believe it to be taboo, so he said he divorced her three times and that was the end of that marriage.

Tandem · 07-29-2003, 06:35 PM

It's a weird practise.

And so open to abuse I suspect.

MikeyChalupa · 07-30-2003, 05:55 AM

I agree that most aspects of Sharia are pretty ridiculous for this day and age, but I'm sure some Muslims might think the same about telling a Roman Catholic priest (who apparently has a pretty good chance of being a pedophile) that you cheated on your wife but you're really sorry will absolve you of the sin. For us to debate how Islam governs divorce when we have the just about the highest divorce rate on the planet is a bit silly. I've been divorced once, and anyone who's been through one will tell you that "I divorce you (x3)" is MUCH easier than the way we do it. From a human rights standpoint, yeah it's not fair to the woman since she can't initiate the divorce in the same way. Give them that right and it's all good.

Like I always say: Religions are like farts. Your own is okay but everyone else's stink.

-Mikey

07-29-2003, 06:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tandem Insane Location: Brisbane, Australia	'I divorce you' SMS troubles PM As a follow up to this post : http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=19215 A row over a Malaysian court ruling that Muslim men can divorce their wives with text messages has outraged women's groups and puzzled the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad says he does not like the idea of divorce by the popular short messaging system (SMS). "Nowadays we can even divorce our wife by sending messages," he said while launching Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson's $21 million regional expertise hub in Malaysia's special Multimedia Super Corridor development zone. "I am not so keen on that but they say it is perfectly legal, perfectly Islamic. "I think that if people want to divorce their wife, they should resort to a much more personal approach than that," he said. "We hope of course that instead of sending messages, you should look at the beautiful wife that you're going to divorce ... maybe she would cry a bit and you would change your mind." Women's groups have had stronger words for the decision by an Islamic Sharia court last week that a man's pronouncement of divorce via SMS was valid. Women's Aid Organisation director Ivy Josiah said the method was "distant, cowardly, undignified and rude". A Muslim man can end his marriage by telling his wife "I divorce you" three times. Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed the Islamic Advancement Department to verify the method of SMS divorce. "I can understand why the women are very worried," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency. "There's possibility of being duped through SMS. "There may be fraud because a short service message can be sent by anyone. "[We] don't face [them] so we don't know, so the doubt arises. It's alright with a letter because there's a signature." http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s913265.htm

07-29-2003, 06:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ralvek Crazy Location: MN	I heard a story on the readi othis morning about a man and after the wedding at the reception his brother-in-law asked him to pose with his new wife for a picture. This offended him because some Muslims believe it to be taboo, so he said he divorced her three times and that was the end of that marriage. __________________ Ban country music, it promotes inbreeding.

07-29-2003, 06:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tandem Insane Location: Brisbane, Australia	It's a weird practise. And so open to abuse I suspect. __________________ It is not a mistake, but an experience. But, if you've experienced it before then you should already know if it is a mistake.

07-30-2003, 05:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
MikeyChalupa Squid Location: USS George Washington	I agree that most aspects of Sharia are pretty ridiculous for this day and age, but I'm sure some Muslims might think the same about telling a Roman Catholic priest (who apparently has a pretty good chance of being a pedophile) that you cheated on your wife but you're really sorry will absolve you of the sin. For us to debate how Islam governs divorce when we have the just about the highest divorce rate on the planet is a bit silly. I've been divorced once, and anyone who's been through one will tell you that "I divorce you (x3)" is MUCH easier than the way we do it. From a human rights standpoint, yeah it's not fair to the woman since she can't initiate the divorce in the same way. Give them that right and it's all good. Like I always say: Religions are like farts. Your own is okay but everyone else's stink. -Mikey