A recent decision by the Federal Shariat Court which stated that women who seek khula (divorce) must return all of their Haq Mehr to their husbands is being criticised on social media.
Haq Mehr is a payment in cash or other valuables made by a husband to his wife at the time of their marriage. Previously, a woman was required by the Shariat Court to return just 25 per cent of this amount after khula.
“The Federal Shariat Court has ruled that Muslim women who seek Khula from their husbands have to return Haq Mehr received from their spouses at the time of their union. Making it more difficult for women to leave abusive marriages. Why does this country hate women so much?” questioned one woman.
“They’re told from the beginning that men are superior to women in every which way (I know this from personal experience). So when that’s threatened, they react in the worst possible way”, responded one man, adding that “We are merely unwilling to put in the effort to learn and change.”
They're told from the beginning that men are superior to women in every which way (I know this from personal experience). So when that's threatened, they react in the worst possible way.
We are merely unwilling to put in the effort to learn and change.— Ali Khalid (@ChayePhilosophy) February 28, 2022
“Many [people] were worried about the surging rate of divorce. And here’s how they put their worries into action by ensuring [that] women keep living in abusive relationships” wrote one woman.
Many ppl were worried about the surging rate of divorce.And here's how they put their worries into action by ensuring tht women keep living in abusive relationships.
Seeking Khula wld now only be possible for financially independent women which r v few.👏 https://t.co/Bc6NyDQxuu— جگنو (@MisbahIslamKhan) February 28, 2022
“Let women be equal inheritors of property, so there is no need for this useless thing called haq mehr which hardly any woman gets in any case, [and] then do away with different categories of talaq, khula, whatnot” opined another woman.
Frankly, in this day&age, there is no point to this complicated circus. Let women be equal inheritors of property, so there is no need for this useless thing called haq mehr which hardly any woman gets in any case, & then do away with different categories of talaq, khula, whatnot pic.twitter.com/WKjzDFqgfF
— Maryam S. Khan (@MaryamShKhan) February 28, 2022
The new directive goes into effect on May 1, 2022. The court also ruled that if a man leaves his wife, then he should pay her Haq Mehr.
