The Banda Aceh Shari'a Court (lower court) had granted the respondent an irrevocable divorce. In overturning the decision of the lower court, the Court made particular note of the parties' three children (aged 21, 19 and 17), who had informed the Court that their parents still lived together peacefully, and that they did not wish to see their parents divorce. The Court also noted that the respondent had not once attended any of the six additional court sessions.