Why don't Maldives’ courts recognize verbal abuse?

It took years that our small society finally recognized bullying as a serious issue.

In addition to physical bullying, verbal bullying is recognized as psychological harm elsewhere.

Yet Maldives’ courts still do not recognize verbal abuse as something serious enough to warrant divorce despite the long term negative mental affects that would have on the victims.

The courts only recognize physical domestic violence as a serious issue which of course is a great improvement considering that there was a time years back when the courts failed to treat forensic evidence as something that is credible enough to lead to a conviction.

I am raising this issue today because this week I came to know about a Maldivian woman who could not psychologically tolerate verbal abuse by her husband and was forced to leave her own home and take refuge in the home of one of her relatives.

Her husband was living together with her in her own home and when she requested him to leave her alone and go to his own house, he refused and still continue to live in her home making it unbearable for her to return and live there.

It's been way before Ramadan that she requested the court for a divorce and yet the court is dragging the issue for several months without giving any reason and she is living in a limbo.

So she is now forced to take refuge in her relative's home because the Maldivian judiciary has failed to recognize verbal abuse as a serious matter akin to verbal bullying that amounts to psychological harm. Not surprising considering Maldives’ courts’ much delayed recognition of marital rape, too.