Turkish Divorce, SMS Style

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 7 December 2017)



                  Kolay gelsin!

The Turkish Religious Affairs Ministry's Senior Council has announced
a view that is contrary to both settled law and civil law.  Previously,
the Council issued the controversial view that when the words "I divorce
you" are spoken divorce is ipso facto accomplished.  This time the Council
has asserted that "a divorce decision can be taken by means of telephone,
facsimile, letter, message and the internet."

A citizen wrote to the Council asking "is divorce valid when done by
telephone, message and the internet?"  The Council responded as follows:
"In the same way that when a person ((male)) says the words 'I divorce
you, leave me.'  verbally to the face of another ((female)), he can divorce
her with these same words by telephone, letter, message, the internet and
facsimile.  It is just as valid to use these other means as saying the words
verbally to the face of another.  But (!), if the divorce declaration is sent
in written form the recipient must be certain that it came from her spouse.
In this case, the divorce is effective the moment  the woman reads the
letter."



              Onward to the Middle Ages!!!