SMS text messages "won't be acceptable ways for Malaysian men to start Islamic divorces," reports AP. "Reacting to an Islamic court's ruling last week approving a divorce initiated with a husband's text message to his wife, the government said Thursday it will tighten religious laws to bar the use of electronic messages in divorces. Under Islamic law, a husband can get a divorce by declaring his intention to his wife and then repeating his desire before a religious law judge."
"Last week's ruling by an Islamic judge in Malaysia dissolving a marriage after the wife was notified by text message angered women's groups, which said that process is demeaning. Some Islamic scholars and government officials said it tarnished the religion's image."
