[JURIST] The Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled [opinion, text] that the Islamic talaq [IRFI backgrounder], a controversial practice under which a husband can divorce his wife without her say, violates the state constitution [text] and therefore does not constitute a valid form of divorce in Maryland. The Court held Tuesday that talaq was against Maryland constitutional provisions granting equal rights to men and women, finding that:

Talaq lacks any significant "due process" for the wife, and its use moreover, directly deprives the wife of the "due process" she is entitled to when she initiates divorce litigation in this State. The lack and deprivation of due process is itself contrary to this State's public policy.