Former Johor Sultanah fights to clear name, says she and late Sultan were not divorced


Tuanku Zanariah Tunku Ahmad

Yiswaree Palansamy, TMI

The former Johor Sultanah, Tuanku Zanariah Tunku Ahmad, has filed an application in the Syariah Court to set aside an earlier court order that her late husband Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail had divorced her on January 23, 2009.

She also wants the ruju’ (resumption of conjugal relationship) pronounced a week later after the purported divorce be declared invalid.

In her affidavit in support of the application which was filed today, she alleged that the state administration, especially the religious authorities, were used in an attempt to defame her and Sultan Iskandar.

Tuanku Zanariah said that the late ruler did not make any application to verify the alleged divorce, adding that she and the late Sultan were both living together as lawful husband and wife in peace and harmony until Sultan Iskandar died on January 22, 2010.

Sultan Iskandar was named as plaintiff in that case while Tuanku Zanariah was the defendant, meaning that the late ruler was initiating legal action against his wife.

However, Tuanku Zanariah said that she was not informed nor served with any papers of the court proceedings and only learnt about it on September 30 this year through a letter sent by the Johor Mufti Datuk Mohd Tahrir Syamsuddin.

“From the Mufti’s letter, it is apparent that the state fatwa committee had abused its power by making a ruling on August 6, 2010, that Sultan Iskandar and Tuanku Zanariah were divorced and that the ruju’ by Almarhum is invalid,” a statement issued by Tuanku Zanariah’s office read.

READ MORE HERE

 



Comments
Loading...