WHERE DIVORCE IS EASY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1920, Page 12

WHERE DIVORCE IS EASY.

SHREWD JUDGE OF HUMAN NATURE. Few people, except those who live in the countries concerned, realise that to certain British subjects divorce is the easiest thing in the world. In Egypt, India, and the East generally, all matrimonial matters concerning Mohammedan subjects are governed by the law contained in the holy Koran —the Mohammedan Bible. In my own court —held in an out-of-the-world town —cases in connection with divorce attract no attention, and two or three are often settled in the course of a morning's work. When a Mohammedan marries ho takes his bride before a sheikh, mullah, or cadi, and goes through a ceremony not unlike the alleged American one of, '■Have her?" "Yes." "Have him?" "Yes." "Hitched. Two dollars, please." But there is a third and most important question put (to the man) at a Mohammedan wedding, and that is: "What is the woman's mehr (dowry) 5" Why is it important I shall explain later. Should a Mohammedan desire to divorce his wife lie has only to say to her three separate times, in the presence of witnesses: "I divorce you!" The woman cannot divorce her husband. Yes, I know it sounds very one-sided, but "wait and see." At marriage the husband lias agreed to the dowry that is to be settled on his wife, but so far he has not been asked to take any further steps in the matter. Now, however, that he lias divorced her the dowry must be forthcoming,- and it forms a first charge against his estate should he be insolvent. He is also responsible for the maintenance of all issues of the. marriage. The woman goes forth with a handsome dot in hand, and —after a little ■ while —is free to marry again. Note that the divorce declaration must be repeated three times. The underlying idea is to prevent a man from divorcing his wife through pique while he is in a rage. It is presumed that by the time he has said. "I divorce you!" the second time he will have realised what he is about, and will hesitate to pronounce the final decree. And should he not pronounce it he can only have his wife back on paying a fine. Should lie repeat the sentence for the Aturd time, ttc divorce is irrevocable,, m-

usmuclr as he may not re-marry the wo man until she has been married to another man, and, of course, again divorced or made a widow.

All this may seem rather appalling to the average Christian, but I can assure ' you that anyone who has much to do ' with matrimonial affairs as they concern Mohammedans soon comes to realise t that the prophet Mohammed was a { shrewd judge of human nature, and that there is much to be said in favor of tlte laws governing the relation between man and wife as revealed to him. —BIM-BASI-11, in the Daily Mail.