You can’t use sharia law in divorce deal: Muslim hospital consultant told to pay ex-wife maintenance despite claims he owes her nothing under Islamic rules

A rare case where British law prevailed

Daily Mail:

  • Dr Zaid Al-Saffar told he must follow ‘the rule in this country’
  • Ordered to pay £60,000 to his former wife, academic Hanan Al-Saffar
  • He felt the payments were illegitimate according to Islamic culture
  • Claims: ‘Family law in this country is biased against Muslim people’

By Steve Doughty

PUBLISHED: 18:04 EST, 25 July 2012 | UPDATED: 18:58 EST, 25 July 2012

'Law is biased': Dr Al-Saffar was told he must pay maintenance to his ex-wife‘Law is biased’: Dr Al-Saffar was told he must pay maintenance to his ex-wife

A Muslim hospital consultant was told yesterday that he must pay his ex-wife maintenance even though under Islamic rules he believes he owes her nothing.

A judge told Dr Zaid Al-Saffar that he must follow ‘the rule in this country’ and share his money.

The Appeal Court decision means Dr Al-Saffar must pay £60,000 to his former wife, academic Hanan Al-Saffar.

The ruling sounded a warning to Muslim couples who believe their marriages are ordered according to sharia law and agree to be bound by Islamic courts.

Lord Justice Ward told Dr Al-Saffar: ‘The rule in this country is that you share and the starting point is equal division.

‘You came out of the marriage without having made your wife any substantial capital payment.’

He added: ‘Life is sometimes hard; do not be consumed with bitterness.’

But Dr Al-Saffar said after the case: ‘By playing the system and pretending to be a victim she got everything, which I think is totally unfair.

‘Family law in this country is biased against Muslim people.’

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About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

5 Replies to “You can’t use sharia law in divorce deal: Muslim hospital consultant told to pay ex-wife maintenance despite claims he owes her nothing under Islamic rules”

  1. This is a clear case of Islamic law and western law clashing.

    As long as he is still married he can kill her under Islamic law but if she wants a divorce she can have one but he owes her nothing.

    What is the logical thing to do under Islamic law to save a buck?
    Morally and ethnically it can be justified in order to save a buck.

  2. Perhaps the realisation that Islamist exceptionalism is a cover for things like child-abuse (“she was selling herself!”) is starting to concentrate at least this judge’s mind on the realities of Sharia.

  3. Yep thats right “The rule in this country is that you share and the starting point is equal division.” what part does islam NOT understand that laws of islam do not apply within another country