INJUSTICE to the wives and children in a polygamous marriage can be prevented if the authorities will tighten the existing regulations on such unions, said advocacy group for Muslim women, Sisters in Islam (SIS).

The group called on authorities to tighten the conditions for such a marriage and to close the legal loopholes that allow a husband to take another wife without court permission.

“Religious leaders have a big responsibility to guide and encourage followers to be more responsible in their family lives which will bring equity and peace to all family members instead of weakening and shattering them, especially in the Covid-19 era,” SIS said in a statement.

The group was responding to yesterday’s meeting between Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and Perlis shariah chief judge Ibrahim Deris, where they discussed easing the application process for polygamy in the state.

SIS said it was disappointed that the issues and impact of polygamy appeared to be taken lightly.

“If the mufti and chief shariah judge of Perlis feel that polygamy is the solution to all the problems, they should know that it is wrong because the reality is not as good as it looks,” SIS said.

Surely the two of them are aware of the problems faced by the women, single mothers and children, it said.

It is irresponsible to talk about easing the regulations for polygamous unions given the shortcomings of the current practice, which often leads to problems such as divorce and illegitimate children

SIS said many polygamists who circumvent the law by getting married in Thailand are let off with a fine and not made to comply with Malaysian law which takes into account the husband’s financial standing and ability to provide for the wives and children.

In some cases, it said, the husband has not been able to support his first family after taking one or more wives.

Some husbands who claim to be financially able to support more than one family when applying for polygamy have proved unable when ordered to do so by the courts, it said.

SIS said a 2019 survey has found that the wives have to work to support the family.
 
“Furthermore, their children are also emotionally and psychologically scarred. The reality is polygamous marriages do not only affect the husband and wives but also the children whose welfare must be considered,” it said.

Asri and Ibrahim should consider raising issues such as child support and custody, domestic violence and financial aid for women and single mothers instead of proposing something that will worsen the situation just because religion allows it, it said. – June 7, 2020.