KUALA LUMPUR: The husband of Lembah Pantai member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar pronounced "talak satu" against her, finalising her mutual divorce bid.
Businessman Raja Ahmad Shahrir Iskandar Raja Salim uttered the Islamic divorce phrase to seal the mutual divorce which the PKR vice-president had sought since Dec 2013.
The 36-year-old then sat down and wiped his eyes as Nurul, 35, stood grim faced during proceedings before the Syariah High Court here today.
Syarie judge Mohd Amran Mat Zain pronounced the couple officially divorced around 4.17pm after being satisfied with Raja Ahmad Shahrir "talak" pronouncement.
Mohd Amran then ordered Nurul Izzah to not get married within the three-month period beginning today when the divorce was made final.
"The marriage certificate issued previously is to be revoked and details on the divorce to be registered," he said in reference to the mutually-agreed divorce terms.
Earlier during proceedings today, the court ruled that it was satisfied that both parties have reached the best possible settlement when they agreed on the terms.
Among the terms are that custody of the former couple's two children would go to Raja Ahmad Shahrir if Nurul marries another man.
The said term is in line with Section 82 and 83(a) of the Islamic Family Law Act 1984 (Federal Territories). Nurul had sought for the mutual divorce under Section 47 of the same Act.
The duo currently shares custody of their 8-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son, both being seen seated with Nurul Izzah's sister in the public gallery during proceedings.
When met afterwards, Raja Ahmad Shahrir's counsel Azmi Mohd Rais said that his client agreed to pay RM1,500 in monthly child maintenance (nafkah) for both children.
"Nurul would not seek "conciliatory gift"(mu’taah) and "matrimonial property"," Azmi explained as one of the mutually-agreed terms between both parties.
Both Nurul and Raja Ahmad Shahrir refused to comment when approached by reporters.
Nurul Izzah married Raja Ahmad Shahrir on May 9, 2003, at the residence of her father, PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.