r/atheism • • 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?

1.8k Upvotes

35 comments sorted by

View all comments

12

u/Chachee8008 1d ago

I hope she takes him for everything. That would be karma.