Malaysian Muslim men can divorce their wives through text messages on mobile telephones, the New Straits Times daily reported yesterday, quoting a religious adviser to the government.

Hamid Othman, adviser to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, said divorce via SMS or short messaging service was in accordance with sharia law if it was clear and unambiguous.

“SMS is just another form of writing,” Hamidas said, following an Islamic court decision on Thursday that ruled in favour of a man who served divorce on his wife using SMS.

Islamic law permits a man to divorce his wife by declaring the word ‘talaq’ – I divorce you – three times.

All the more reason to screen one’s calls.

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