HARIAN Metro highlighted local film director, Aziz M. Osman, 46, whose marriage to a religious teacher, Nor Radhiah Ramli, 22, is said to be invalid because she is still in iddah (the period after divorce).

Nor Radhiah replied to a statement made by Aziz's mother, Afida Es, on Sunday that her son's marriage was invalid and the matter had been referred to the Syariah Court.

Nor Radhiah said she was ashamed at Afida's remark, but did not blame her as she and Aziz had not told Afida the real story.

Nor Radhiah admitted she had married a 28-year-old man without her parents' knowledge on April 4 before she met Aziz.

On July 28, she said the Kuala Terengganu Syariah Lower Court confirmed the marriage was illegal as it was solemnised in Pengkalan Kubur, which was outside the jurisdiction of the marriage registrar.

The issue of iddah does not arise because her previous marriage was not legal according to the syariah law.

She added that her marriage with Aziz was istibarak, or valid, but she could not live with him for two months.

She has not met Aziz after celebrating Hari Raya with him and efforts to contact him have been to no avail.

Aziz told the daily to let him resolve the matter first and declined to elaborate on his marital status.