A woman’s khul’ (divorce at the wife’s request for compensation) from her husband without a judge

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. This is a question that has been repeated for a woman in a land of disbelief. She says and asks about an issue regarding khul’ (divorce at the wife’s request for compensation). She says: A woman fled from her husband and does not want to return to him. Three months have passed since then. She hates him and cannot stay with him. She requested khul’ (divorce at the wife’s request for compensation) two years ago, but the judges in her country, who are appointed by the government there, do not listen to her. They say: As long as you have food and shelter, your husband will not grant you khul’ (divorce at the wife’s request for compensation). Her question is: Is it permissible for a Muslim who is known among the Muslims in this area and is knowledgeable about issues of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) to grant her khul’ (divorce at the wife’s request for compensation) without her husband’s consent?

Answer:
No, this is a matter that concerns the courts. No one but a judge can grant her khul’ (divorce at the wife’s request for compensation); an ordinary person cannot.