I have a question.  When a couple is thinking of getting divorced, is it customary in Turkey for the husband to ask the wife to return the jewelry she received at the wedding, or other jewelry she received as gifts from him and his family for her birthday?

Never heard of that. The gold belongs to the girl/woman as far as I know

That´s what I thought.  My husband asked me for all the gold back.  Is not even a lot, just a couple of braceletes, and 2 necklaces.  I just thought that was a real weird behavior and very disrespectful, but I thought maybe things are different in Turkey.  In USA when you give a gift, you never ask for them back.

I would say you are absolutely right And I believe it to be disrespectful in Turkey as well.

A gift is a gift.

Good luck.

I think there is no any custom like that.I have never heard a behavior like this.
This behavior is weird, disrespectful and rude…The gold, jewelry and gifts belong to woman…
Yes, gift is gift…

Note: THE TURKISH CODE OF CIVIL , 743: TÜRK YURTTAŞLAR KANUNU - YASA NO : 743
According to this law, Family life, marriage, social rights, wifes and husbands rights, divorce,
custody,  law maintenance allowance. inheritance, childrens rights and responsibilities has been  prepared in The TURKISH CODE OF CIVIL LAW.This law is alike SWISS CODE OF CIVIL LAW.This is very modern and legal law.This law saves the women and children.

Actually, gifts of gold that are giving at the wedding, like bracelets, by either the husband or the husband´s family can never ever be asked back. They are like a back-up plan for the woman, and only hers. They are a form of security in case of divorce. You can even check the Quran for it, so it´s very strange of your ex to ask these things back. In Turkey this is a very odd thing to do, because of the Islamic background of people. What am I saying, outside Turkey this is also a strange thing to do!

 Thanks.

Well I guess this action once more validates to me the nature of his character.  I don´t need his gold, I have more gold from my mom than he could ever give me and I make more than enough money on my own.  I don´t need it for back up either, I just wanted to keep it for our baby girl. 

If we were to go by the rules in the Kuran, when we got married the price set was 100000.00 dollars.  I don´t want or need a penny of it.  I married him because I loved him and because all the other turkish man I know are very nice and very family oriented.  I thought that he will value marriage and work to keep it, I guess I was wrong.