PUTRAJAYA, 29 April 2009: He has not seen his two sons since they were six and four. She has since fled the country to escape him and a law she does not accept.
Both relied on the laws they believed to be theirs. He relied on Islamic jurisprudence when their marriage failed while she stuck to the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 under which they were married in 1998.
Under the different systems of law, both were granted custody over the two boys born of their 11-year-old marriage. He was given the Hardanah order while she was given the right to raise her sons under civil law.
Yet, seven years on, neither Dr Jeyaganesh C Mogarajah, who is now known as Muhammad Ridzwan Mogarajah, nor Shamala Sathiaseelan have gotten the closure or legal remedy they need to proceed with their lives.
Once vilified for converting their sons, then four and two, to Islam without the prior consent of his wife, Dr Ridzwan now cuts a forlorn figure in court.
Read more here.
This article first appeared on Tuesday, 28 April 2009 in www.theedgemalaysia.com under the title Shamala, Ridzwan both victims in conversion issue. Used with permission.
Sue says
I think that it’s unfair that only Shamala is seen as a victim although the father too has not seen his sons for the past five years. There are too many gaps in the law and too little courage on the bench.
izz says
I too feel it is unfair that when Shamala so blatantly disobeys the court, she still has support from so many people. Does it mean that it is ok to show contempt to courts in Malaysia? Hey you men out there, your wives could do similar things to you too, God forbid that your marriage ends in a divorce. More so with the women’s movement’s support.