Critical Review of Domestic Violence as Reason for Divorce (Comparison of Divorce Laws in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Maldives)

Abstract

The phenomenon of domestic violence is on the rise every year and often puts a marriage into divorce. Divorce on the grounds of domestic violence frequently appears in the courtroom of Religious Courts in Indonesia as stipulated in Article 19 letter d PP No. 9 of 1975. It affirms that one party committing cruelty or severe persecution that endangers another party can be the legal reason for divorce. And then what about other Muslim countries? This research is library research with a descriptive-analytical method using a juridical normative approach. It found that domestic violence is accommodated as one of the reasons for divorce in family law in Indonesia, Malaysia (Negeri Sembilan, Persekutuan Pulau Pinang, Selangor dan Johor), and the Maldives. However, there are differences in granting the right for filing a divorce because of domestic violence. Divorce law in Indonesia and Malaysia enables both husband and wife to file for divorce because of domestic violence while Maldives law only enables the wife to do so.