Is a wife considered divorced if her husband said, "I don't want you, I can't stand you, and I wouldn't be a man if I didn't divorce you," with the intention of divorce, but then refused to divorce her unless she relinquished her rights, knowing that she has been out of the marital home for a year and a half?

The husband's utterances, such as "I don't want you," do not constitute a divorce unless the husband intends divorce by them, as the decisive factor is the inner intention. If the husband pronounces divorce three times, intending to effect a divorce each time, then the wife becomes unlawful to him and will not be lawful to him again until she marries another man and he consummates the marriage with her, and then divorces her. If the husband does not intend divorce by what he said, then no divorce is binding upon him. It is not permissible for the husband or his children to harm the wife by beating or otherwise, and if this occurs, she has the right to seek divorce from the court. It is permissible to leave the marital home to avert harm, such as severe beating.