*Experts are weighing in on how Janet Jackson’s cultural differences with her husband Wissam Al Mana could play out in the divorce when it comes to custody of their son, msn.com reports.
While the ex-couple are expected to raise their 3-month-old son, Eissa, together despite their recent split – so called religious experts tell PEOPLE that the pair’s cultural differences may affect their co-parenting.
One religious expert says that it’s “not really possible” for the parents to raise Eissa as both a Jehovah’s Witness (which Jackson grew up in but said she didn’t identify with) and a Muslim (Al Mana’s religion), PEOPLE reports.
“The children issue is always the biggest issue,” says Dr. Rita George-Tvrtkovic, a theology professor at Illinois’ Benedictine University.
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Janet, who was spotted out in London this week with her baby boy Eissa in a pushchair (baby buggy), called it quits with her husband after five years of marriage. According to Page Six, Jackson ordered the locks changed on her Trump apartment weeks before the split with Al Mana.
George-Tvrtkovic says co-parenting would be “a lot easier” if Jackson and Al Mana decided on just one faith to raise the child under. A source previously revealed to PEOPLE that Jackson often tried to adjust to her husband’s culture.
“For years, Janet tried to adapt to his culture. Since it’s not a culture she grew up with, it’s been challenging for her. She often felt she disappointed Wissam,” the source previously explained. “The cultural differences between her and Wissam became even more obvious [after Eissa arrived]. They come from very different worlds.”
The expert adds that it helps that the family lives in London.
“If this couple was in a Muslim country then it would be totally different, the rules of co-parenting would be different,” George-Tvrtkovic says. “But in England the laws are very secular and they probably won’t have many problems.”
Al Mana is reportedly worth $1 billion and Jackson is likely worth up to $250 million. Janet is expected to come up in the divorce, as it could result in a payout worth millions.
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