Muslim Tory peer tells government to get tough on polygamy in UK

You —

Muslim Tory peer tells government to get tough on polygamy in UK

Politicians have avoided dealing with issue because of cultural sensitivity, Lady Warsi says

Politicians have avoided dealing with the issue of polygamy in the UK because of "cultural sensitivity", a leading Muslim peer said today.

Lady Warsi, the shadow minister for community cohesion, said there had been a "failure" to take polygamy seriously.

She urged the government to consider the mandatory registration of all religious marriages to stop men in Britain from marrying more than one woman.

"There has been a failure on the part of policymakers to respond to this situation," Warsi told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"Some of it has been done in the name of cultural sensitivity, and we've just avoided either discussing or dealing with this matter head on.

"There has to be a culture change and that has to brought about by policymakers taking a very clear stance on this issue, saying that, in this country, one married man is allowed to marry one woman.

"And that must be the way for everyone who lives in this country."

Warsi said politicians should consider whether people married in religious ceremonies in their own homes with an "imam and a couple of witnesses there" should be made to register those marriages within a four-week period.

"If that was the case, then those marriages would have to be declared within law," she said.

"And if those marriages were declared within law, then clearly, if the person has a first legal wife, there could be potential cases of bigamy being brought."

From The Guardian.

Forum

Ya'qub — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 - 20:06

This already happens.

We couldn't find a mosqueto marry us because they all require you to have a British certificate of marriage before they'll perform a nikah.

There are, of course, imams who will do it in people's houses etc (which is what we're getting).

But the government is powerless to stop it happening in people's houses.
So this woman is just being silly (again).

Ya'qub — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 - 21:59

[quote=You]I did not thnk that having an "imam" present was necessary for a nikah?

Could it not just be some random person?[/quote]

In theory.... but would ANY country recognise a marriage done by a random geezer?

Examples?

Ya'qub — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 - 22:03

[quote=Noor]only if you want it registered otherwise it doesn't matter.[/quote]

But if you go to many Muslim countries you won't be able to stay in a hotel together (or the wife might not even be allowed to travel without her father/brother) unless the marriage is registered.

You — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 - 22:05

Another question on polygamy - Marriage is internationally recognised, right?

ie if you get married in one country, all countries recognise it?

What if you get into a polygamous marriage in a country that allows it and then go to one that don't?

What about foreigners that visit the UK?

Are they "breaking the law"?

Ya'qub — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 - 22:11

[quote=You]Another question on polygamy - Marriage is internationally recognised, right?

ie if you get married in one country, all countries recognise it?

What if you get into a polygamous marriage in a country that allows it and then go to one that don't?

What about foreigners that visit the UK?

Are they "breaking the law"?[/quote]

polygamous marriages from abroad are recognised in the UK. They are eligible for all benefits etc.

BTW I read something which said there are around 1000 polygamous marriages in the UK at the moment. So even if it is the 'problem' which Warsi says it is, its not that 'large' of a problem.

Ya'qub — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 - 22:22

[quote=You]Which are probably based on those people that get caught/get treatment and may not be representative of what really happens.[/quote]

Notneccesarily true. It's all about anonymous questionaires added to population statistics.

s.b.f — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 - 17:23

[quote=Noori]no.

the guy doesn't need the permission of his first wife either.[/quote]

thats true, BUT by doing that its not looking after the first wife (emotionally), so doesnt that go against one of the rules of Islam?

TPOS — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 - 20:13

[quote=proud_hijabi]if a guys first wife is against him having another wife but he goes ahead with it would it count as adultery?[/quote]

In RE i learnt that you can have it as one of the conditions in the nikah that you dont want the husband to marry again. which means he wouldnt be able to marry again as he would be breaking the nikaah. i dont think it would count as adultery though.

You — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 - 01:15

Warsi wades in

Is there a serious problem with polygamy in the UK, or is the Baroness's attack simply cultural point-scoring?

Following her attacks on the qat-chewing habits of Britain's Somali and Yemeni communities, Baroness Warsi – who represents the acceptable face of Islam in the Conservative party – has turned her attention to polygamy.

"In this country, one married man is allowed to marry one woman. And that must be the way for everyone who lives in this country," she says.

But why? Baroness Warsi doesn't explain.

Polygamous marriages can certainly result in the exploitation of women, though that can happen in ordinary marriages, too. If a man wants to have more than one wife, or a woman to have more than one husband, and everyone enters into the arrangement openly and voluntarily, what exactly is wrong with that?

A man can live with two women in Britain perfectly legally, but if he marries them both it's a crime punishable by up to seven years in jail. At least, it is a crime if they marry in Britain. If they all go abroad to a country where polygamy is legal, get married and then come back to Britain, there's no problem. The marriage(s) will be officially recognised.

Lady Warsi, the shadow minister for community cohesion, complains about a "failure" by policymakers to take the issue of polygamy seriously: "We've just avoided either discussing or dealing with this matter head on."

It's hard to see why she's getting so steamed up about it – except, of course, that it panders to the usual Tory line about "traditional" family values and "un-British" cultural practices...

Read more @ The Guardian

Nice (potential) character assassination with many good points in there. So I was right about marrying abroad and it being recognised here.

Does Lady Warsi have an agenda?

Ya'qub — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 - 09:04

[quote=You]

Does Lady Warsi have an agenda?[/quote]

To be the acceptable 'face of moderate Islam' in the eyes of potential conservative voters/labour voters who may change their minds before the next election?

It's not any 'agenda' other than what she/her superiours think will be popular.

If they thought that changing the law to allow polygamy for everyone would get them more votes, then they'd pledge to do that instead.