The statement was sent by Sania and her team barely one day after Malik married prominent Pakistani actress Sana Javed.
On Sunday, Indian tennis great Sania Mirza issued an official statement announcing that she and legendary Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik had been divorced for a “few months”. Her father was cited as claiming that her daughter chose ‘Khula’ and divorced Mr Malik. Sania and her team made the statement only one day after Malik married prominent Pakistani actress Sana Javed, demanding “privacy” and urging admirers on social media to avoid speculating.
What is “Khula”?
Khula is an Islamic ritual that refers to a Muslim woman’s unilateral separation from her spouse. It seeks to maintain and protect women’s rights within the context of Islamic law. The woman initiates the divorce by asking it from the court and stating a valid basis for doing so, such as incompatibility, abuse, or neglect. It might also include a woman repaying ‘Mehr’ or arranging a financial settlement with her husband in exchange for the breakdown of the marriage.
Following the separation, the spouse is responsible for providing schooling and financial support for the children. The children usually live with their mother until they reach the age of ‘Hizanat’. For sons, it is seven years; for daughters, it is till puberty.
How is it different from a Talaq?
Talaq refers to when a guy initiates a divorce. According to Muslim law, once a guy says that, his marriage ends instantly. A divorce by ‘Talaq’ can only be started by the husband at his discretion, with or without cause, and he is not required to follow any procedure. After providing ‘talaq’, the husband is obligated to reimburse the wife’s dower and whatever property she has.
