Mirror.co.uk
30/03/2006

AN Indian man has divorced his wife in his SLEEP.

He muttered the word 'talaq' three times, which under Muslim law allows a man to divorce his wife immediately, as he lay next to his stunned ex.

The couple, from West Bengal, went to get advice and were then told by their village elders that they were officially divorced.

The man, known only as Akhtar, and his former wife, Sobena, have said they want to stay together but clerics have told them they must remarry.

The pair are hoping to end their nightmare by registering their marriage under a special act.

Other bizarre divorce laws from around the world

Middle East - Under Islamic law if a wife seeks divorce she has go to court and provide evidence of ill treatment or sexual impotence on the part of her husband.

Japan - A non-Japanese spouse can be divorced without consent as the legally recognised Japanese signature is in the form of a stamp. The international member has to hand sign to authorise divorce – for which there is no legal register – making forgery easy.

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Sudan - Divorce is made deliberately difficult for the Neur people of Sudan. Marriage is only complete after the groom has paid 20-40 cattle and the wife bears two children. If he wants a divorce and the couple only have one child he can ask for the return of the cattle or the child.

Bangladesh - Under Islamic shariah marriage laws, only men have the right to initiate divorce proceedings.

United States - It is possible for Americans to travel abroad for quickie divorces; it takes just four weeks to become legal in the Dominican Republic, one to two weeks in Nevada and only 24 hours in Haiti! Celebrities such as Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor have all taken advantage of this.