Wives' 'disobedience' and husbands' lack of time leading causes of divorce: Chief Judge of Family Court

Chief Judge of Family Court Ibrahim Mahir has said today that the leading causes cited by men filing for divorce in the Maldives is 'lack of obedience' on the part of wives, while women file for divorce most often because husbands do not dedicate enough time.

In a statement released in relation to Family Day, the Chief Judge stated that when considering the scope of the cases that are generally submitted to the Family Court, it reflects that the youth lack awareness of married life, and added that this needs to be addressed in education.

He noted that many divorces are caused not by major problems, but by smaller problems piling up and remaining unresolved for long periods of time. The Judge said that not enough is done to resolve issues faced between couples, nor is advice sought from close people who can offer assistance.

Judge Mahir said that amongst the key reasons men quote when they file for divorce are wives not being obedient to them, wives not giving weight to the husbands' words, and wives disrespecting husbands.

In the case of women who file for divorce, the Judge said some of the very legitimate reasons quoted by women are husbands failing to care for their wives and children, husbands spending too much time socializing and 'out for coffees' with friends and, as a result, neglecting the wives, and wives not being given the chance to share their worries and concerns at home.

However, the Judge went on to state that instead of encouraging couples to resolve the issues and establish a healthy family environment for the couples and children, of late, there have been attempts to promote divorce as a means of protecting women's rights.

"...this causes many women to be in more difficult circumstances, and cause their children to be deprived of children's rights. The court observes this through people's statements in the many cases filed after divorce, regarding care of children, expenses of childcare, visiting rights with children, and such," the statement reads.

The Chief Judge further said that issues relating to children arise after divorce oftentimes because revenge and retribution against former spouses and other such intentions take precedence over protecting children's rights.

He highlighted that it is a child's right to receive love and care from both parents, and that if couples shared the view that the children's rights will be protected even if they opt for divorce, then many issues would be resolved without the need for the courts to get involved.

The Chief Judge's statement also spoke about domestic violence. It said that cases of violence against parents inflicted by their sons and daughters, as well as between siblings is on the rise. He noted that the number of protection orders that are being released in such cases have also increased.

He called on the public to let go of destructive mindsets and to promote Islamic discipline, as well to increase the amount of quality time spent together as a family.

He also cautioned not to share familial issues on social media, and to instead promote dialogue and discussion within the family.