Nepal is considering legalising polygamy, i.e., the practice of having more than one wife or husband at the same time. The move has triggered an uproar, with critics slamming the move as "regressive". In today's day and age are there other nations that allow Polygamy? Does India? 

Nepal mulls legalising polygamy — THESE are the countries where it's still legal in 2025

Moscow
Russia’s top Islamic body has reversed a ruling allowing Muslim men to have multiple wives. The move came after the move by the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia triggered a backlash on social media, as officials pointed out how the ruling didn’t conform to Russian laws.
Polygamy is outlawed in Russia and goes against “our core morals and traditional values,” said Nina Ostanina, the head of the parliamentary family affairs committee.
The Islamic body earlier on Dec 17 issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, outlining conditions and circumstances under which Muslim men can have more than one wife. The document said a Muslim man could have four wives if “equal material support” is guaranteed to all, along with separate living space. One of the conditions was that the husband will have to give “an equal amount of time” to each of them.
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The main condition for allowing polygamy is a fair and equal treatment of all wives by their husband,” the document said. It acknowledged that “religious Islamic marriage is not recognized by the state and creates no legal consequences,” stressing that the fatwa “does not replace the norms of Russian marital law.”
Soon after the document became public, it was severely condemned by officials as well as Russian commoners. Russian state-backed outlet RT quoted Kirill Kabanov, a member of the presidential Human Rights Council, as accusing the Islamic body of brazenly violating Russia’s constitution.
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On Monday (Dec 23), the Islamic body was notified by the Prosecutor General’s Office that the ruling was essentially unlawful and it went against “the state family policies.” Soon after, the body said it was withdrawing its document allowing polygamy, citing backlash from the public and the official order.
“It is God’s will. The Council of Scholars sees no sense in joining a debate on the matter,” the council’s chairman, Shamil Alyautdinov, wrote on Telegram.
It is to be noted that Muslims make up for around 10 per cent of Russia’s total population, with the highest concentration in regions like Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, and Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in western Russia.
(With inputs from agencies)

The Islamic body issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, earlier on Dec 17 outlining circumstances under which Muslim men can have more than one wife. The document said a Muslim man could have four wives if “equal material support” and separate living spaces were guaranteed to all.



Moscow Russia’s top Islamic body has reversed a ruling allowing Muslim men to have multiple wives. The move came after the move by the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia triggered a backlash on social media, as officials pointed out how the ruling didn’t conform to Russian laws. Polygamy is outlawed in Russia and goes against “our core morals and traditional values,” said Nina Ostanina, the head of the parliamentary family affairs committee. The Islamic body earlier on Dec 17 issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, outlining conditions and circumstances under which Muslim men can have more than one wife. The document said a Muslim man could have four wives if “equal material support” is guaranteed to all, along with separate living space. One of the conditions was that the husband will have to give “an equal amount of time” to each of them. Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Launches Aerial Attack On Ukraine × The main condition for allowing polygamy is a fair and equal treatment of all wives by their husband,” the document said. It acknowledged that “religious Islamic marriage is not recognized by the state and creates no legal consequences,” stressing that the fatwa “does not replace the norms of Russian marital law.” Soon after the document became public, it was severely condemned by officials as well as Russian commoners. Russian state-backed outlet RT quoted Kirill Kabanov, a member of the presidential Human Rights Council, as accusing the Islamic body of brazenly violating Russia’s constitution. Also read: ‘Create more passionate content,’ Putin pitches for alternatives to porn On Monday (Dec 23), the Islamic body was notified by the Prosecutor General’s Office that the ruling was essentially unlawful and it went against “the state family policies.” Soon after, the body said it was withdrawing its document allowing polygamy, citing backlash from the public and the official order. “It is God’s will. The Council of Scholars sees no sense in joining a debate on the matter,” the council’s chairman, Shamil Alyautdinov, wrote on Telegram. It is to be noted that Muslims make up for around 10 per cent of Russia’s total population, with the highest concentration in regions like Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, and Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in western Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

‘It’s God’s will,’ Russia’s top Islamic body withdraws ruling that allowed men to have four wives

Russia’s top Islamic body has reversed a ruling allowing Muslim men to have multiple wives. The move came after the move by the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia triggered a backlash on social media, as officials pointed out how the ruling didn’t conform to Russian laws.

Polygamy is outlawed in Russia and goes against “our core morals and traditional values,” said Nina Ostanina, the head of the parliamentary family affairs committee.

The Islamic body earlier on Dec 17 issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, outlining conditions and circumstances&nbsp;under which Muslim men can have more than one wife. The document said a Muslim man could have four wives if “equal material support” is guaranteed to all, along with separate living space. One of the conditions was that the husband will have to give “an equal amount of time” to each of them.

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The main condition for allowing polygamy is a fair and equal treatment of all wives by their husband,” the document said. It acknowledged that “religious Islamic marriage is not recognized by the state and creates no legal consequences,” stressing that the fatwa “does not replace the norms of Russian marital law.”

Soon after the document became public, it was severely condemned by officials as well as Russian commoners. Russian state-backed outlet RT quoted Kirill Kabanov, a member of the presidential Human Rights Council, as accusing the Islamic body of brazenly violating Russia’s constitution.

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On Monday (Dec 23), the Islamic body was notified by the Prosecutor General’s Office that the ruling was essentially unlawful and it went against “the state family policies.” Soon after, the body said it was withdrawing its document allowing polygamy, citing backlash from the public and the official order.

“It is God’s will. The Council of Scholars sees no sense in joining a debate on the matter,” the council’s chairman, Shamil Alyautdinov, wrote on Telegram.

It is to be noted that Muslims make up for around 10 per cent of Russia’s total population, with the highest concentration in regions like Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, and Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in western Russia.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia’s top Islamic body has reversed a ruling allowing Muslim men to have multiple wives. The move came after the move by the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia triggered a backlash on social media, as officials pointed out how the ruling didn’t conform to Russian laws.

Russia’s top Islamic body has reversed a ruling allowing Muslim men to have multiple wives. The move came after the move by the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia triggered a backlash on social media, as officials pointed out how the ruling didn’t conform to Russian laws. Polygamy is outlawed in Russia and goes against “our core morals and traditional values,” said Nina Ostanina, the head of the parliamentary family affairs committee. The Islamic body earlier on Dec 17 issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, outlining conditions and circumstances under which Muslim men can have more than one wife. The document said a Muslim man could have four wives if “equal material support” is guaranteed to all, along with separate living space. One of the conditions was that the husband will have to give “an equal amount of time” to each of them. Watch: Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Launches Aerial Attack On Ukraine × The main condition for allowing polygamy is a fair and equal treatment of all wives by their husband,” the document said. It acknowledged that “religious Islamic marriage is not recognized by the state and creates no legal consequences,” stressing that the fatwa “does not replace the norms of Russian marital law.” Soon after the document became public, it was severely condemned by officials as well as Russian commoners. Russian state-backed outlet RT quoted Kirill Kabanov, a member of the presidential Human Rights Council, as accusing the Islamic body of brazenly violating Russia’s constitution. Also read: ‘Create more passionate content,’ Putin pitches for alternatives to porn On Monday (Dec 23), the Islamic body was notified by the Prosecutor General’s Office that the ruling was essentially unlawful and it went against “the state family policies.” Soon after, the body said it was withdrawing its document allowing polygamy, citing backlash from the public and the official order. “It is God’s will. The Council of Scholars sees no sense in joining a debate on the matter,” the council’s chairman, Shamil Alyautdinov, wrote on Telegram. It is to be noted that Muslims make up for around 10 per cent of Russia’s total population, with the highest concentration in regions like Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia in the North Caucasus, and Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in western Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

The legislature of the north Indian state of Uttarakhand tabled a bill on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Tuesday (Feb 6).&nbsp;

Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has been leading this move, on Monday (Feb 5) said that the proposed UCC will not only be "for the good of all sections" but will also align the &nbsp;'Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas' (development for everyone) and 'Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat' (one, great India) vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is legislation aimed at a singular socio-cultural code for all communities irrespective of religion or caste.&nbsp;

Retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai headed the government-appointed panel which drafted a four-volume, 749-page report that contains many recommendations.&nbsp;

<h2>What suggestions did the panel receive?</h2>

A total of 233,000 written feedback forms were collected by the panel online and it hosted more than 70 public forums.

The members of the government-appointed panel, during these meetings, involved nearly 60,000 people who helped in developing the draft. &nbsp;

The UCC contains different proposals which include a complete ban on polygamy as well as child marriage. It also proposes a uniform process for divorce and a standardised marriageable age for girls across different faiths.&nbsp;

The UCC's recommendations, which are aimed at fostering gender equality as well as social cohesion, will be discussed during the special four-day assembly session which started on Monday (Feb 5) and continued till Thursday (Feb 8).&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-is-uniform-civil-code-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-law-its-origin-current-status-604902">What is Uniform Civil Code? Here's everything you need to know about the law, its origin &amp; current status</a>

The UCC draft includes different facets of civilian life as recommendations include mandatory marriage registration, an extension of inheritance rights, as well as increasing the marriageable age for girls and facilitating girls' pursuit of education before their marriage.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, in an attempt to push for legal documentation, couples who do not register their marriages will be considered ineligible for government facilities.&nbsp;

<h2>What did the Uniform Civil Code recommend?&nbsp;</h2>

Although the specific recommendations included in the draft document of the Uniform Civil Code remain undisclosed, the media reports suggested that the UCC will establish a legal framework which encompasses marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance laws, which will not be affected by the religious affiliations.&nbsp;

The Uniform Civil Code if enacted will make Uttarakhand the first state in post-Independence India to have adopted it, after Goa where it has remained operational since the days when the Portuguese ruled the territory.&nbsp;

Uttarakhand's proposed UCC goes beyond religious boundaries and everyone's adoption rights, which includes Muslim women.&nbsp;

The UCC seeks a ban on practices like halala and iddat - which are Islamic practices that women are supposed to go through after the husband's death or divorce - and promotes simplification of adoption procedures and the declaration of live-in relationships.

Watch:&nbsp;Uttarakhand: Uniform Civil Code bill to be tabled in assembly on February 6th

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The practice of iddat was in the headlines of Pakistan's media days back after its former prime minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Khan was accused of not waiting for the completion of the waiting period after getting divorced from her former husband and married Khan in 2018.

The Scheduled Tribes, which constitute 3 per cent of Uttarakhand's population and population control measures have not been included in the draft.

The UCC's other key features include the removal of distinctions between illegitimate and legitimate children, equal treatment to adopted and biologically born children and equal property rights for sons and daughters.&nbsp;

If a person dies, as per the proposed UCC, his spouse, children, and parents will get equal property rights, which is a move ahead from previous laws which limited such rights.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The legislature of the north Indian state of Uttarakhand tabled a bill on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Tuesday (Feb 6). Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has been leading this move, on Monday (Feb 5) said that the proposed UCC will not only be "for the good of all sections" but will also align the 'Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas' (development for everyone) and 'Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat' (one, great India) vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The legislature of the north Indian state of Uttarakhand tabled a bill on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) on Tuesday (Feb 6). Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who has been leading this move, on Monday (Feb 5) said that the proposed UCC will not only be "for the good of all sections" but will also align the 'Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas' (development for everyone) and 'Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat' (one, great India) vision of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is legislation aimed at a singular socio-cultural code for all communities irrespective of religion or caste. Retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai headed the government-appointed panel which drafted a four-volume, 749-page report that contains many recommendations. What suggestions did the panel receive? A total of 233,000 written feedback forms were collected by the panel online and it hosted more than 70 public forums. The members of the government-appointed panel, during these meetings, involved nearly 60,000 people who helped in developing the draft. The UCC contains different proposals which include a complete ban on polygamy as well as child marriage. It also proposes a uniform process for divorce and a standardised marriageable age for girls across different faiths. The UCC's recommendations, which are aimed at fostering gender equality as well as social cohesion, will be discussed during the special four-day assembly session which started on Monday (Feb 5) and continued till Thursday (Feb 8). Also read: What is Uniform Civil Code? Here's everything you need to know about the law, its origin & current status The UCC draft includes different facets of civilian life as recommendations include mandatory marriage registration, an extension of inheritance rights, as well as increasing the marriageable age for girls and facilitating girls' pursuit of education before their marriage. Meanwhile, in an attempt to push for legal documentation, couples who do not register their marriages will be considered ineligible for government facilities. What did the Uniform Civil Code recommend? Although the specific recommendations included in the draft document of the Uniform Civil Code remain undisclosed, the media reports suggested that the UCC will establish a legal framework which encompasses marriage, divorce, land, property, and inheritance laws, which will not be affected by the religious affiliations. The Uniform Civil Code if enacted will make Uttarakhand the first state in post-Independence India to have adopted it, after Goa where it has remained operational since the days when the Portuguese ruled the territory. Uttarakhand's proposed UCC goes beyond religious boundaries and everyone's adoption rights, which includes Muslim women. The UCC seeks a ban on practices like halala and iddat - which are Islamic practices that women are supposed to go through after the husband's death or divorce - and promotes simplification of adoption procedures and the declaration of live-in relationships. Watch: Uttarakhand: Uniform Civil Code bill to be tabled in assembly on February 6th The practice of iddat was in the headlines of Pakistan's media days back after its former prime minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Khan was accused of not waiting for the completion of the waiting period after getting divorced from her former husband and married Khan in 2018. The Scheduled Tribes, which constitute 3 per cent of Uttarakhand's population and population control measures have not been included in the draft. The UCC's other key features include the removal of distinctions between illegitimate and legitimate children, equal treatment to adopted and biologically born children and equal property rights for sons and daughters. If a person dies, as per the proposed UCC, his spouse, children, and parents will get equal property rights, which is a move ahead from previous laws which limited such rights. (With inputs from agencies)

New divorce laws, no polygamy: India's Uttarakhand bats for UCC, here's all you need to know about the bill

The north Indian state of Uttarakhand has declared it will hold a special session of the state assembly next week to pass the much-debated Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.&nbsp;

The women-centric draft has reportedly proposed banning the practice of polygamy altogether. It would also govern live-in relationships and warrant their registration with the government.

The state government is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and some are predicting that the state legislature might act as a prelude to a similar regime at the national level.

The UCC bill “is to formulate one law that is applicable to all religions in matters related to marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption,” said a government source quoted by Indian Express.

The bill’s broader focus is on uniformity in personal laws such as marriage registration, divorce, property rights, inter-state property rights, maintenance, custody of children, etc., the sources added.

<h2>State had set up an expert committee</h2>

The government of Uttarakhand, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, had set up an expert committee to form a draft proposal on May 27, 2022. In the run-up to the state assembly polls in 2022, the implementation of the UCC was one of the biggest poll promises of the BJP.

Watch:&nbsp;BJP led central govt aims to secure 3rd term in 2024 elections

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The expert committee is expected to submit its final report to the government within the next three to four days.

<h2>The ongoing UCC debate in India</h2>

The ruling BJP is aggressively pushing to implement UCC on state levels, with its governments in other states—Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat—also have initiated similar measures.

The action has begun on the national level too, with the Law Commission of India already beginning a consultation on the UCC draft.

According to experts, the law will greatly benefit women, especially those hailing from Islam, overcome challenges posed by the orthodox clergy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cash-for-query-scam-cbi-to-launch-probe-against-tmc-mp-mahua-moitra-says-bjps-nishikant-dubey-656582">Also read:&nbsp;CBI to probe cash-for-query scam involving TMC MP Mahua Moitra, says BJP MP Nishikant Dubey</a>

"Unfortunately, the clergy has miserably failed to reform Muslim personal law. This has resulted in discrimination and denial of justice to Muslim women. A genuine and affirmative UCC can address this anomaly substantially," activist Zakia Soman was quoted as saying.

However, some Muslim organisations have vigorously disputed the proposed law, amid allegations that the ruling BJP wants to strip India’s largest minority group of its religious autonomy.

(With inputs from agencies)

The north Indian state of Uttarakhand has declared it will hold a special session of the state assembly next week to pass the much-debated Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill.

The north Indian state of Uttarakhand has declared it will hold a special session of the state assembly next week to pass the much-debated Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill. The women-centric draft has reportedly proposed banning the practice of polygamy altogether. It would also govern live-in relationships and warrant their registration with the government. The state government is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and some are predicting that the state legislature might act as a prelude to a similar regime at the national level. The UCC bill “is to formulate one law that is applicable to all religions in matters related to marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption,” said a government source quoted by Indian Express. The bill’s broader focus is on uniformity in personal laws such as marriage registration, divorce, property rights, inter-state property rights, maintenance, custody of children, etc., the sources added. State had set up an expert committee The government of Uttarakhand, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, had set up an expert committee to form a draft proposal on May 27, 2022. In the run-up to the state assembly polls in 2022, the implementation of the UCC was one of the biggest poll promises of the BJP. Watch: BJP led central govt aims to secure 3rd term in 2024 elections × The expert committee is expected to submit its final report to the government within the next three to four days. The ongoing UCC debate in India The ruling BJP is aggressively pushing to implement UCC on state levels, with its governments in other states—Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat—also have initiated similar measures. The action has begun on the national level too, with the Law Commission of India already beginning a consultation on the UCC draft. According to experts, the law will greatly benefit women, especially those hailing from Islam, overcome challenges posed by the orthodox clergy. Also read: CBI to probe cash-for-query scam involving TMC MP Mahua Moitra, says BJP MP Nishikant Dubey "Unfortunately, the clergy has miserably failed to reform Muslim personal law. This has resulted in discrimination and denial of justice to Muslim women. A genuine and affirmative UCC can address this anomaly substantially," activist Zakia Soman was quoted as saying. However, some Muslim organisations have vigorously disputed the proposed law, amid allegations that the ruling BJP wants to strip India’s largest minority group of its religious autonomy. (With inputs from agencies)

India: BJP-ruled Uttarakhand to move bill for Uniform Civil Code; seeks to abolish polygamy

The population of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, has been on a constant decline. A research that was initiated&nbsp;in an&nbsp;effort to pinpoint the contributing factors to this decline reveals pressures of extreme polygamy may be driving southern elephant seals to early death.&nbsp;

A study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science comprised of these 14,000 southern elephant seals on Macquarie Island in the south-western Pacific. One of the key findings of the study is that male and female survival rates are roughly comparable when they are juvenile. However, after age eight, male survival quickly declined, falling to about 50%, while female survival remained constant at 80%.

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The research reveals that the largest and fattest male seals, known as beachmasters, have an edge when it came to reproduction as they are able to compete for female access better.&nbsp;

Sophia Volzke, a PhD student at the University of Tasmania and the study's primary author said, “They can only get food from the ocean." “When they come on land [to breed] they’re competing with other males for access to females.

“They need to have fat resources stored to be able to fight other males and survive on land without eating anything for weeks or months at a time.”

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Volzke said the species demonstrates "extreme polygyny". A small percent of beachmasters control harems of females. One enormous beachmaster might have a harem with up to 100 females, she said. In cases when the harems are so large, they could allow a younger man to serve as an assistant beachmaster.

According on the topography of the beach and the size of the harem, a truly long beach is more likely to have a number of small harems. Just 4% of men work as beachmasters. Males that are still maturing are under pressure to acquire weight fast due to competition. According to the researchers, this leads to reduced survival rates since the males go in search of food at sea in locations where they may be more vulnerable to predators.&nbsp;

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“Adult males concentrate their foraging effort in shallower waters. These highly productive locations are frequented by other marine predators, such as orcas … and sleeper sharks,” the researchers wrote.

“We might see one male that isn’t a successful beachmaster … come ashore in August and try to challenge a beachmaster. If they lose a fight they will just go back to sea,” Volzke said. “Beachmasters have a really loud roar which deters other males, which means some might not even come to shore at that time.”

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The population of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, has been on a constant decline. A research that was initiated in an effort to pinpoint the contributing factors to this decline reveals pressures of extreme polygamy may be driving southern elephant seals to early death.

The population of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, has been on a constant decline. A research that was initiated in an effort to pinpoint the contributing factors to this decline reveals pressures of extreme polygamy may be driving southern elephant seals to early death. A study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science comprised of these 14,000 southern elephant seals on Macquarie Island in the south-western Pacific. One of the key findings of the study is that male and female survival rates are roughly comparable when they are juvenile. However, after age eight, male survival quickly declined, falling to about 50%, while female survival remained constant at 80%. Also Read | Report sounds alarm over humanity's 'vampiric' overconsumption of its 'lifeblood' water The research reveals that the largest and fattest male seals, known as beachmasters, have an edge when it came to reproduction as they are able to compete for female access better. Sophia Volzke, a PhD student at the University of Tasmania and the study's primary author said, “They can only get food from the ocean." “When they come on land [to breed] they’re competing with other males for access to females. “They need to have fat resources stored to be able to fight other males and survive on land without eating anything for weeks or months at a time.” Also Read | Uganda to criminalise identification as LGBTQ; introduces strict punishments for violations Volzke said the species demonstrates "extreme polygyny". A small percent of beachmasters control harems of females. One enormous beachmaster might have a harem with up to 100 females, she said. In cases when the harems are so large, they could allow a younger man to serve as an assistant beachmaster. According on the topography of the beach and the size of the harem, a truly long beach is more likely to have a number of small harems. Just 4% of men work as beachmasters. Males that are still maturing are under pressure to acquire weight fast due to competition. According to the researchers, this leads to reduced survival rates since the males go in search of food at sea in locations where they may be more vulnerable to predators. Watch | Earthquake in Afghanistan: 9 killed and over hundred injured after 6.6 magnitude earthquake “Adult males concentrate their foraging effort in shallower waters. These highly productive locations are frequented by other marine predators, such as orcas … and sleeper sharks,” the researchers wrote. “We might see one male that isn’t a successful beachmaster … come ashore in August and try to challenge a beachmaster. If they lose a fight they will just go back to sea,” Volzke said. “Beachmasters have a really loud roar which deters other males, which means some might not even come to shore at that time.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pressures of 'extreme polygamy' causing decline in southern elephant seals population, reveals study

Polygamy is common in the east democratic republic of Congo. Polygamous ceremonies are making the headlines.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Polygamous ceremonies make headlines

A lecturer from a top Chinese law school has been suspended from teaching after arguing that polygamy should be allowed for some intellectuals.

Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Monday that&nbsp;Bao Yinan, an associate professor of international law at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, wrote on his WeChat Moments,&nbsp;a social media platform restricted to friends,&nbsp;that teachers at Chinese colleges and universities should be given ''special treatment''&nbsp;in marriage&nbsp;as well as lifelong allowances.

But his comments on polygamy in the private channel were leaked to public platforms, prompting a backlash.

The teachers work unit under the university's Communist Party work committee issued a statement over the weekend, saying Bao had been removed from all teaching duties for ''publishing wrong views online'', the Post reported.

The statement said the school would take further unspecified action against Bao.

Bao's comments were initially made about an article on a ruthlessly competitive tenure system for young lecturers at Chinese universities, where only a small percentage of young teachers gain tenured jobs.

It was part of his argument for better treatment for younger university workers,&nbsp;an issue brought to the fore when a 39-year-old mathematics teacher at Shanghai's prestigious Fudan University killed a Communist Party official after learning that he was about to lose his teaching job, it said.

Bao is not the only one to argue in favour of polygamy. Fudan University economics professor Yew-Kwang Ng made a similar case a year ago.

Ng proposed that Chinese women should be allowed to have multiple husbands to help resolve the gender imbalance in China, where there are about 118 boys born for every 100 girls.

(With inputs from agencies)

A lecturer from a top Chinese law school has been suspended from teaching after arguing that polygamy should be allowed for some intellectuals. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Monday that Bao Yinan, an associate professor of international law at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, wrote on his WeChat Moments, a social media platform restricted to friends, that teachers at Chinese colleges and universities should be given ''special treatment'' in marriage as well as lifelong allowances.

A lecturer from a top Chinese law school has been suspended from teaching after arguing that polygamy should be allowed for some intellectuals. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Monday that Bao Yinan, an associate professor of international law at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, wrote on his WeChat Moments, a social media platform restricted to friends, that teachers at Chinese colleges and universities should be given ''special treatment'' in marriage as well as lifelong allowances. But his comments on polygamy in the private channel were leaked to public platforms, prompting a backlash. The teachers work unit under the university's Communist Party work committee issued a statement over the weekend, saying Bao had been removed from all teaching duties for ''publishing wrong views online'', the Post reported. The statement said the school would take further unspecified action against Bao. Bao's comments were initially made about an article on a ruthlessly competitive tenure system for young lecturers at Chinese universities, where only a small percentage of young teachers gain tenured jobs. It was part of his argument for better treatment for younger university workers, an issue brought to the fore when a 39-year-old mathematics teacher at Shanghai's prestigious Fudan University killed a Communist Party official after learning that he was about to lose his teaching job, it said. Bao is not the only one to argue in favour of polygamy. Fudan University economics professor Yew-Kwang Ng made a similar case a year ago. Ng proposed that Chinese women should be allowed to have multiple husbands to help resolve the gender imbalance in China, where there are about 118 boys born for every 100 girls. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese law school lecturer suspended for advocating polygamy

The Utah state Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday to effectively decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults, reducing penalties for practice with deep religious roots in the predominantly Mormon state.

The Utah state Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday to effectively decriminalize polygamy among consenting adults, reducing penalties for practice with deep religious roots in the predominantly Mormon state. The bill however, is expected to face greater resistance when it moves to the Utah House of Representatives. Also Read: Two Canadian men convicted of polygamy in landmark ruling Currently, the law states that polygamy is classified a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Utah Republicans reportedly spent little time discussing the bill and swiftly cleared it on a vote of 29-0. Under the bill, punishments for plural marriage would be limited to fines of up to $750 and community service. Fraudulent bigamy, however, remains a felony. Senator Deirdre Henderson, the chief sponsor of this bill, reportedly said that the intent was to lower the penalties so those from polygamous communities who are victims of crimes can come forward without fear of being prosecuted themselves. Also Read: Former US presidential candidate Romney announces Utah Senate bid It also facilitates otherwise law-abiding polygamists in obtaining access to medical or mental healthcare, education or even employment without fear. Those opposing the bill state that current law should not be changed because polygamy is inherently dangerous and harmful to women and children, particularly young girls, some of whom have been forced into marriages with older men. Senator Henderson reportedly said that though Utah has a history of felony punishment for polygamy, it has not successfully halted the practice. Also Read: One dead at University of Utah shooting, police search for suspect “The solution to the problem is increased societal integration, which can only come through decriminalizing otherwise law-abiding polygamists,” she stated during a preliminary debate on the bill last week. Critics of the bill have stated that the measure wrongly frames polygamy as a human rights issue. “Proponents of this bill attempt to piggyback on the success of the gay rights movement by promoting the narrative that this initiative is about consenting adults doing what they will,” the anti-polygamy group Sound Choices Coalition issued a statement. The anti-polygamy law was struck down by a federal judge for being unconstitutional, but a federal appeals court reversed the ruling. The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the case.

Utah Senate votes to decriminalize polygamy

A month after the Supreme Court sought a response from the Centre on its stand on&nbsp;polygamy and certain forms of marriages in the Muslim community, another petition was filed today in the apex court seeking a ban on Nikah Halala.

The Supreme Court has tagged the matter with the earlier four petitions.

The Supreme Court had on March 26, referred the case to a Constitution bench to examine and adjudicate&nbsp;the validity of polygamy and certain forms of marriages in the Muslim community.

The apex court's decision came in response to a batch of petitions challenging Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, for recognising and validating the practice of Nikah Halala, Nikah Mutah and Nikah Misyar as well as polygamy.

Calling the practices as unconstitutional, senior advocates also demanded that the prevailing practices should be declared illegal.

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Another petition has been filed in Supreme Court seeking ban on Nikah Halala.The Supreme Court tagged this matter with the earlier four petitions. Earlier the Court had issued a notice to the Centre and had sought a response.
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The Supreme Court had on March 26, referred the case to a Constitution bench to examine and adjudicate the validity of polygamy and certain forms of marriages in the Muslim community

A month after the Supreme Court sought a response from the Centre on its stand on polygamy and certain forms of marriages in the Muslim community, another petition was filed today in the apex court seeking a ban on Nikah Halala. The Supreme Court has tagged the matter with the earlier four petitions. The Supreme Court had on March 26, referred the case to a Constitution bench to examine and adjudicate the validity of polygamy and certain forms of marriages in the Muslim community. The apex court's decision came in response to a batch of petitions challenging Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, for recognising and validating the practice of Nikah Halala, Nikah Mutah and Nikah Misyar as well as polygamy. Calling the practices as unconstitutional, senior advocates also demanded that the prevailing practices should be declared illegal. Another petition has been filed in Supreme Court seeking ban on Nikah Halala.The Supreme Court tagged this matter with the earlier four petitions. Earlier the Court had issued a notice to the Centre and had sought a response. — ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2018 ×

Another petition filed in Supreme Court seeking ban on nikah halala

The Supreme Court today commenced its historic hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the practice of triple talaq and nikah halala among Muslims, saying it would first determine whether the practice is fundamental to Islam.

A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, however, made it clear that the issue of polygamy among the Muslims may not be deliberated upon as it is not connected with the triple talaq issue.

&quot;We will deal with the issue as to whether triple talaq is sacramental and whether it can be enforced as a Fundamental Right,&quot; the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, UU Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, said while framing the issue to be deliberated upon.

The top&nbsp;court also said if it came to the conclusion that triple talaq is fundamental to religion, then it will not go into the question of its constitutional validity.

The bench said it will also deal with the aspect of whether triple talaq formed part of the enforceable Fundamental Right to practice religion under the Constitution.

Senior advocate Amit Singh Chadha, appearing for Saira Bano, one of the petitioners in the case, initiated the arguments against the practice of triple talaq among Muslims and said this practice was not fundamental to Islam and hence can be done away with.

He also referred to the practices in the neighbouring Islamic countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh to buttress his plea that triple talaq is un-Islamic.

The bench intervened and said it would like to peruse the prevalent laws in various Islamic countries on the issue.

Another senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for one of the petitioners, said in the case of divorces being granted through the extra-judicial mechanism, there should be a &quot;judicial oversight&quot; to deal with the consequences.

Former Union Minister and senior advocate Salman Khurshid, who is assisting the court in his personal capacity, termed triple talaq as a &quot;non-issue&quot; saying it is not considered complete without conciliation efforts between the husband and the wife.

He said there was no adjudication to determine the validity of the grounds of talaq.

When the bench asked whether reconciliation after the pronouncement of triple talaq in one go is codified, Khurshid replied in the negative.

Another former Union Minister and counsel for All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Kapil Sibal, concurred with Khurshid, saying &quot;it&#39;s a non-issue, as no prudent Muslim would wake up one fine morning and say talaq, talaq and talaq&quot;.

The bench continued with the hearing in the post-lunch session.

The pleas before the top court have also challenged the constitutional validity of other practices like nikah halala&nbsp;and polygamy among the Muslims.

The bench is also taking up the main matter on its own as a petition titled &quot;Muslim Women&#39;s quest for equality&quot;.

The top court had on its own taken cognisance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or due to other marriages of their husbands.

The hearing assumes significance as the top court has decided to hear the case during the summer vacation and is likely to sit on Saturdays and Sundays to expeditiously decide the contentious and sensitive issues arising in the matter.

It holds importance as the Allahabad High Court, in its verdict pronounced in the last week of April, had held the practice of triple talaq as unilateral and bad in law.

The High Court had given its verdict while dismissing a petition filed by one Aaqil Jamil whose wife had filed a criminal complaint against him alleging that he had tortured her for dowry and when his demands were not met, he gave her triple talaq.

The apex court had on March 30 said that the Muslim practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy are issues that are &quot;very important&quot; and involve &quot;sentiments&quot;.

Influential Muslim organisations like the AIMPLB have opposed the court&#39;s adjudication of these matters, maintaining that these practices stemmed from the Holy Quran and hence not justiciable.

The Muslim women, who have filed the petitions, have challenged the practice of triple talaq in which the husband, quite often, pronounces talaq thrice in one go, sometimes even by phone or text message.

Nikah halala is a practice intended to curb the incidence of divorce under which a man cannot remarry his former wife without her having to go through the process of marrying someone else, consummating it, getting divorced, observing the separation period called &#39;Iddat&#39; and then returning to him.

Earlier, the apex court, while referring to the matter to a larger bench, had observed that &quot;sentiments&quot; were involved in it and a five-judge constitution bench would adjudicate the issue which needed a detailed hearing.

The court had said it would decide the issues pertaining to the legal aspects of the practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims, but would not deal with the question whether divorce under Muslim law needs to be supervised by courts as it fell under the legislative domain.

The Centre had on October 7 last opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on the grounds like gender equality and secularism.

AIMPLB had on March 27 told the apex court that pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of the judiciary.

The Board had also said the validity of the Mohammedan Law, founded essentially in the Holy Quran and sources based on it, cannot be tested on particular provisions of the Constitution.

It had said there was a need for &quot;judicial restraint&quot; before going into the constitutional interpretation of these issues unless such an exercise becomes unavoidable.

The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, had referred to the constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court. 
 
(PTI)

The top court said if it came to the conclusion that triple talaq is fundamental to religion, then it will not go into the question of its constitutional validity

The Supreme Court today commenced its historic hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the practice of triple talaq and nikah halala among Muslims, saying it would first determine whether the practice is fundamental to Islam. A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar, however, made it clear that the issue of polygamy among the Muslims may not be deliberated upon as it is not connected with the triple talaq issue. "We will deal with the issue as to whether triple talaq is sacramental and whether it can be enforced as a Fundamental Right," the bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, R F Nariman, UU Lalit and Abdul Nazeer, said while framing the issue to be deliberated upon. The top court also said if it came to the conclusion that triple talaq is fundamental to religion, then it will not go into the question of its constitutional validity. The bench said it will also deal with the aspect of whether triple talaq formed part of the enforceable Fundamental Right to practice religion under the Constitution. Senior advocate Amit Singh Chadha, appearing for Saira Bano, one of the petitioners in the case, initiated the arguments against the practice of triple talaq among Muslims and said this practice was not fundamental to Islam and hence can be done away with. He also referred to the practices in the neighbouring Islamic countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh to buttress his plea that triple talaq is un-Islamic. The bench intervened and said it would like to peruse the prevalent laws in various Islamic countries on the issue. Another senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for one of the petitioners, said in the case of divorces being granted through the extra-judicial mechanism, there should be a "judicial oversight" to deal with the consequences. Former Union Minister and senior advocate Salman Khurshid, who is assisting the court in his personal capacity, termed triple talaq as a "non-issue" saying it is not considered complete without conciliation efforts between the husband and the wife. He said there was no adjudication to determine the validity of the grounds of talaq. When the bench asked whether reconciliation after the pronouncement of triple talaq in one go is codified, Khurshid replied in the negative. Another former Union Minister and counsel for All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Kapil Sibal, concurred with Khurshid, saying "it's a non-issue, as no prudent Muslim would wake up one fine morning and say talaq, talaq and talaq". The bench continued with the hearing in the post-lunch session. The pleas before the top court have also challenged the constitutional validity of other practices like nikah halala and polygamy among the Muslims. The bench is also taking up the main matter on its own as a petition titled "Muslim Women's quest for equality". The top court had on its own taken cognisance of the question whether Muslim women faced gender discrimination in the event of divorce or due to other marriages of their husbands. The hearing assumes significance as the top court has decided to hear the case during the summer vacation and is likely to sit on Saturdays and Sundays to expeditiously decide the contentious and sensitive issues arising in the matter. It holds importance as the Allahabad High Court, in its verdict pronounced in the last week of April, had held the practice of triple talaq as unilateral and bad in law. The High Court had given its verdict while dismissing a petition filed by one Aaqil Jamil whose wife had filed a criminal complaint against him alleging that he had tortured her for dowry and when his demands were not met, he gave her triple talaq. The apex court had on March 30 said that the Muslim practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy are issues that are "very important" and involve "sentiments". Influential Muslim organisations like the AIMPLB have opposed the court's adjudication of these matters, maintaining that these practices stemmed from the Holy Quran and hence not justiciable. The Muslim women, who have filed the petitions, have challenged the practice of triple talaq in which the husband, quite often, pronounces talaq thrice in one go, sometimes even by phone or text message. Nikah halala is a practice intended to curb the incidence of divorce under which a man cannot remarry his former wife without her having to go through the process of marrying someone else, consummating it, getting divorced, observing the separation period called 'Iddat' and then returning to him. Earlier, the apex court, while referring to the matter to a larger bench, had observed that "sentiments" were involved in it and a five-judge constitution bench would adjudicate the issue which needed a detailed hearing. The court had said it would decide the issues pertaining to the legal aspects of the practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims, but would not deal with the question whether divorce under Muslim law needs to be supervised by courts as it fell under the legislative domain. The Centre had on October 7 last opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on the grounds like gender equality and secularism. AIMPLB had on March 27 told the apex court that pleas challenging such practices among Muslims were not maintainable as the issues fell outside the realm of the judiciary. The Board had also said the validity of the Mohammedan Law, founded essentially in the Holy Quran and sources based on it, cannot be tested on particular provisions of the Constitution. It had said there was a need for "judicial restraint" before going into the constitutional interpretation of these issues unless such an exercise becomes unavoidable. The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, had referred to the constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court. (PTI)

India's top court begins triple talaq hearings, says will examine whether issue fundamental to Islam

More than two weeks after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Indian government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court against the practice of triple talaq, that allows Muslim men to divorce their wives with the utterance of word &#39;talaq&#39; (divorce), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the government could not allow lives of Muslim women to be destroyed.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;It is the responsibility of the government, and the people of the country, to give justice to Muslim women under the (India) Constitution,&quot; Indian daily DNA quoted him as saying. Modi was addressing a rally in Mahoba, a district in the impoverished Bundelkhand region of northern Uttar Pradesh state.

&nbsp;

&quot;The debate should be between Muslims who want reforms and those who do not want reforms.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Modi also requested the people not to politicise the issue. &nbsp;&quot;I request (the) people who participate in TV debates not to make women rights into Muslim-Hindu issue. Women&#39;s right is a development issue. Let&rsquo;s take proper measures to give equal rights to women as well.&quot;

&nbsp;

Earlier in its affidavit filed on October 7, India&#39;s ministry of law and justice had referred to the constitutional principles such as gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court.

&nbsp;

The law panel&#39;s move was significant as the Supreme Court had recently said it would prefer a wider debate, in public as well as in court, before taking a decision on the constitutional validity of &#39;triple talaq&#39;, which many complain is abused by Muslim men to arbitrarily divorce their wives.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from DNA)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Indian Prime Minister asked people to not to 'politicise and turn a women's rights issue it into a Hindu-Muslim issue'

More than two weeks after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Indian government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court against the practice of triple talaq, that allows Muslim men to divorce their wives with the utterance of word 'talaq' (divorce), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the government could not allow lives of Muslim women to be destroyed. "It is the responsibility of the government, and the people of the country, to give justice to Muslim women under the (India) Constitution," Indian daily DNA quoted him as saying. Modi was addressing a rally in Mahoba, a district in the impoverished Bundelkhand region of northern Uttar Pradesh state. "The debate should be between Muslims who want reforms and those who do not want reforms." Modi also requested the people not to politicise the issue. "I request (the) people who participate in TV debates not to make women rights into Muslim-Hindu issue. Women's right is a development issue. Let’s take proper measures to give equal rights to women as well." Earlier in its affidavit filed on October 7, India's ministry of law and justice had referred to the constitutional principles such as gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court. The law panel's move was significant as the Supreme Court had recently said it would prefer a wider debate, in public as well as in court, before taking a decision on the constitutional validity of 'triple talaq', which many complain is abused by Muslim men to arbitrarily divorce their wives. (WION with inputs from DNA)

Triple talaq destroying lives of Muslim women, says Indian PM Narendra Modi?

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