The Qur’an allows a man up to four wives at a time, plus concubines and unlimited divorce. This is becoming common in a Britain apparently incapable of asserting its cultural identity. From the TimesOnline, with thanks to Twostellas:
UP TO 4,000 British Muslim men have entered into polygamous marriages, some of them keeping as many as five wives, according to senior religious figures.
They have taken advantage of a loophole in the laws against bigamy by going through a “nikah” ceremony at a mosque rather than registering the marriages officially.
Many are avoiding the expense and obligations of divorce, but an estimated 2,000 or more are men who wish to exercise their “right”, according to traditional interpretations of the Koran, to have as many as four wives.
Such relationships, sealed in a Muslim ceremony conducted by an imam, are recognised by Islamic authorities as marriages in the eyes of God. They are, however, invalid under British law, which leaves many “wives” with no rights to their husband’s income, pension, benefits or share of the family home should the relationship break up.
In extreme cases, women brought from abroad, notably from Bangladesh, to marry a British Muslim have been victims of so-called honour killings by their families after being sent home when the relationship has failed.
The article goes on to say that some mosques are clamping down on polygamy. But how hard can they clamp when it is sanctioned by the Qur’an?