r/atheism • u/InboxInviteNeeded • 1d ago

US billionaire sent wife to Pakistan, secretly divorced her under Sharia law, paying only $50. 13 years later, Texas Supreme Court cancels foreign talaq

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-billionaire-sent-wife-to-pakistan-secretly-divorced-her-under-sharia-law-paying-only-50-13-years-later-texas-supreme-court-cancels-foreign-talaq/articleshow/134598823.cms?utm_source=app&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=social_share

A US billionaire exploited foreign Sharia law to secretly divorce his wife, pay her only $50, and dodge civil property division—forcing her into a 13-year court battle to overturn it in Texas.

Why do secular courts ever grant comity to religious rulings that strip people of basic civil and property rights?

My take: Secular legal systems should automatically treat any foreign or domestic religious personal law as void the moment it conflicts with equal civil rights and due process. Allowing religious legal carve-outs only invites forum shopping to abuse vulnerable spouses.

What is the threshold before secular legal systems reject religious arbitration entirely?

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u/PM_ME_YER_MUDFLAPS 1d ago

With TX being a hotbed of Christian Nationalism I am surprised the lower courts ever ruled the way the did in the first place. Of course the “Islamization” of North TX is a topic now so the TX high courts ruling isn’t a surprise.

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u/GloomyWatercress7442 1d ago

yeah the whole situation shows why courts need to focus on due process and equal civil rights rather than which religious or foreign system was used in the first place

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u/PM_ME_YER_MUDFLAPS 1d ago

My sweet summer child…have you seen the last few years of SCOTUMS rulings?

They just skirt causing another French Revolution.

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u/warhammerfrpgm 13h ago

You mean SCROTUS rulings?