In Israel, a Magistrate's Court in Nazareth has convicted a Muslim man of ending his marriage without his wife's agreement and against her will. Yesterday's Haaretz reports that the husband began proceedings in a religious court, but became angry at accusations made by his wife and called for a divorce. Magistrate Court Judge Taufik Katili in his ruling wrote that "defendant's act was arbitrary, carried out during ongoing court discussions while ignoring court procedures. By so doing the defendant objectified and demonized the complainant while disregarding her autonomous will and right to joint determination over the fate of their relationship." The Magistrate's Court sentenced the man to five months of community service and a fine of NIS 30,000.
UPDATE: From Emory's Islamic Family Law site: "Israel's Women's Equal Rights Law 1951 provides penal sanction of imprisonment for husband's unilateral decision to divorce against wife's will and in absence of court judgement permitting such repudiation, but repudiation remains valid."
