Divorce cases up in Malang

MALANG, East Java: Divorce rates among Muslim couples here have increased slightly from 826 cases in 1998 to 863 cases last year, Antara reported on Friday.

Rodiah, a staff member at the local Ministry of Religious Affairs office, told the agency that most divorces were initiated by wives who claimed they were ignored by their husbands.

Officials said in 790 cases which were settled in 1999, 312 wives demanded to separate from their husbands because of failed psychological and physical relations. Meanwhile, 284 women cited economic reasons for the divorce, Rodiah said.

During the Ramadhan fasting month, which covered 30 days starting in early December last year, divorce cases dropped by 50 percent from previous months.

"In December there were only 47 cases," the official said. (prb)