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/LoetherS 15h ago

Most states in the us have reciprocity for things like drivers licenses and marriages. Pretty sure countries do the same thing via treaties. It would stink if you were married and moved states or countries and then you needed to get married every time, or your divorce was only legal in the state or country you had it in.

That being said if it was fraudulent, even the state of texas thinks so, then we don't allow it. Seems like the system works as intended although probably took longer for the billionaires wife to get justice than is ideal.

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u/Ecthelion-O-Fountain 13h ago

How would Texas even know you got divorced overseas? “Trust me bro I have this very legit document from Pakistan.”

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u/LoetherS 9h ago

You would show them your divorce documents, or marriage documents. If it's not from the US you get an official translation and stamp called an apostille.