The husband alleged that the purported sorcery left the children afraid of the dark and suffering from bed-wetting.
Sharjah: A marriage in Sharjah has ended after a husband filed for divorce, alleging that his wife’s practices linked to sorcery and superstition had caused him harm. He also asked the court to transfer custody of their two children to him.
According to Emarat Al Youm, the Sharjah Sharia Court of First Instance granted the divorce on grounds of harm, denied the wife financial rights arising from the marriage and divorce, and awarded custody of the two children to the father.
The husband told the court that his wife and members of her family had allegedly practised sorcery, claiming that the practices had adversely affected their marriage and the well-being of their children.
He cited an earlier statement by his wife, recorded during proceedings in a separate case, in which she said her maternal uncle had treated her through a jinn named “Hamroush” and helped remove an illness until she recovered.
The husband also alleged that the children had been affected, claiming they could identify the jinn their mother was said to have dealt with. He said they had displayed symptoms including bed-wetting, nail-biting, teeth grinding during sleep and a fear of the dark.
The husband argued that the children were at a vulnerable age and expressed concern that the alleged practices and beliefs could affect their psychological wellbeing, education and social development.
The court reviewed submissions from both parties, supporting documents and a social-status report on the father before reserving the case for judgment.
In its reasoning, the court said harm justifying divorce was not limited to any particular form and should be assessed in light of the circumstances of each couple, their social environment and other relevant factors. It found that the evidence presented established harm serious enough to make continuation of the marriage untenable.
On custody, the court said the children’s best interests were the primary consideration. Based on the evidence concerning the mother’s alleged involvement in sorcery and its reported effect on the children, the court found that remaining in her custody was not in their best interests. The father was deemed suitable to care for them.
The husband argued that the children were at a vulnerable age and expressed concern that the alleged practices and beliefs could affect their psychological wellbeing, education and social development.
The court reviewed submissions from both sides, supporting documents and a social-status report on the father before reserving the case for judgment.
In its reasoning, the court said harm justifying divorce was not confined to a specific form and should be assessed based on the circumstances of the couple, their social environment and other relevant factors. It found that the evidence presented established harm serious enough to make continuation of the marriage untenable.
On custody, the court said the children’s best interests were the primary consideration. Based on the evidence concerning the mother’s alleged involvement in sorcery and its impact on the children, the court found that remaining in her custody was not in their best interests. The father, meanwhile, was deemed suitable to care for the children.
The court granted an irrevocable divorce on grounds of harm, ruling that the wife was not entitled to deferred dowry, maintenance during the waiting period or compensation maintenance. Custody of the two children was awarded to the father.
The mother was ordered to hand over the children to their father and pay the court costs, along with Dh5,000 in legal fees.
