Hak Asuh Anak dalam Praktik Perceraian Akibat Perpindahan Agama: Identitas Agama sebagai Prioritas Kepentingan Terbaik bagi Anak: Hak Asuh Anak dalam Perceraian Akibat Pindah Agama: Kecenderungan Hakim dan Strategi Pihak yang Berperkara

Syuja' V. B., Wafid

Transformatif
Vol 9 No 2 (2025): ISSUED IN OCTOBER 2025

This study examines the factors influencing judges' tendencies in Religious Courts to grant custody to Muslim parents, as identified in a selection of judicial decisions. Using a library research method, this analysis examines three purposively selected decisions based on their relevance to the research focus: Decision No. 0006/Pdt.G/2013/PA.Gia; Decision No. 0117/Pdt.G/2016/PA.Prgi; and Decision No. 183/Pdt.G/2019/PA.Prgi. The analysis reveals that this tendency is shaped by both the doctrine of faith protection (hifz al-dīn) and the argumentative strategies employed by Muslim parents, who utilize religious norms to influence judicial reasoning. The findings indicate that the doctrine of faith protection functions not only as a normative legal foundation but also as a strategic element within courtroom proceedings. In determining child custody, judges employ a two-step reasoning process that integrates normative and factual variables, thereby positioning religious considerations alongside other factors, such as psychological well-being, emotional stability, and continuity of care. Consequently, although there may be an initial inclination toward the Muslim parent, the resulting decisions remain consistent with the principle of the child's best interests, safeguarding both the child's spiritual dimension and overall development.