'Verbal' Divorce, Charges Over Two-Year Old Arranged Marriage

MIDDLETOWN, RI — A 58-year-old Middetown man was charged with Domestic Simple Assault or Battery after his nephew, who is also his son-in-law, reported he had slapped him and taken away his green card, his Rhode Island driver's license and his social security number. The victim wanted a police report for U.S. Immigration because he was applying for an extension on his green card, which allows non-citizens to work in this country. He did not want to press charges, he said.

According to the police report, the victim, who is 22, told police he has been in an arranged marriage with his cousin. The couple had been having "issues" and quarreled. During the quarrel, he "verbally divorced" his wife, he told police.

Police went to the home and interviewed the accused, Khurshid Alam. Alam said he intervened because he believed the 22-year-old was going to hit his daughter, and added that it was "a cultural matter."

The incident happened on June 4 and was reported at 11:07 a.m. June 5.

Image via Shutterstock