Husband deemed severely at fault for disliking wife's cooking, top court upholds divorce

Turkey's Court of Cassation has upheld a lower court's decision finding a husband primarily at fault in a divorce case, partly due to his strong disapproval of his wife's cooking. The couple had initiated a mutual divorce proceedings due to severe discord.

The husband accused his wife of mistreatment, insults, and degrading behavior after the birth of their child, claiming she called him names like "old man" and "idiot." He also alleged she locked the refrigerator, forcing him to buy a second one, and sought sole custody of their child along with significant financial compensation.

Conversely, the wife denied the husband's claims, stating he disrespected her daughters from a previous marriage and did not attend their weddings. She countered that he insulted her cooking, calling it "terrible," "poisonous," and criticizing her appearance and intelligence. She requested custody of the child and alimony.

The Family Court initially ruled that while the wife had insulted the husband, his repeated criticism of her cooking and failure to contribute to grocery shopping made him more at fault. The court granted the divorce, awarded custody of the child to the father, and ordered the wife to pay alimony and compensation.

An appeals court affirmed this decision, finding the husband's fault more significant. The Court of Cassation ultimately concurred, solidifying the ruling that the husband's behavior, including his harsh criticism of meals and lack of contribution to household expenses, constituted severe fault, making the continuation of the marriage untenable.