Last update - 00:00 30/01/2007
Man convicted of annulling marriage without permission of wife
By Eli Asheknazi, Haaretz Correspondent
A man was convicted Tuesday of annulling his marriage without the permission of his wife. The Nazareth Magistrate's court sentenced the man to five months incarceration, to be served through community service, as well as a NIS 30,000 fine.
According to the indictment, the suspect divorced his wife in a Muslim religious court in Nazareth, without the agreement of his wife and against her will.
The man claims after their marriage began to suffer, the couple began legal proceedings in the religious court. During the deliberations, the man said, the woman leveled harsh accusations against his father. As a result, he got angry and called for a divorce. He claims that he had tried to make peace at home, but to no avail.
Nazareth Magistrate's Court President, Judge Taufik Katili, wrote in his ruling that "one needs not say much about the severity of violation for which lawmakers have set a serious punishment.
"The 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."