What is the ruling on a man who became engaged to a woman and formally contracted their marriage (kataba kitābahu 'alayhā), then entered into a valid, private meeting with her (khalā bihā shar'iyyan), threatened to expose her secret, broke off the wedding, proceeded to disclose and expose her secret, and will not divorce her unless she relinquishes her rights? And what are her rights?

If a man has a proper privacy with his wife after the marriage contract, then she is entitled to the full mahr according to the majority of scholars, and she must observe her 'iddah (definition) even if intercourse has not occurred. If he divorces her, then he owes her the entire mahr. It is not permissible for him to pressure her to forfeit her mahr, or part of it, if she is not disobedient (nashiz). If he does so, then the khul' (divorce at the wife's instance, usually with compensation) is void, and he has no right to compensation.