Australia: Calls to legalise polygamy in Australia rejected by government

Trad had told a Triple J radio programme that polygamists in Australia's Muslim community would like their relationships to be legalised as otherwise women were left in a vulnerable position in the case of the man's demise.

'If this woman has wilfully chosen to enter into this relationship and makes a lifelong commitment to this person to be married, it shouldn't matter. If it was a business and the business had four partners we'd recognise that, but why don't we recognise it when it comes to consensual relationships amongst adults?' Trad said.

Trad, who's mother was a third wife in a polygamous marriage overseas, said women admired, respected and supported each other in such relationships.

Polygamy is illegal in Australia and those practising it feel they are not accepted by society.

Sheikh Khalil Chami of the Islamic Welfare Centre in the Sydney suburb of Lakemba said on the radio show that he was asked to perform polygamous religious ceremonies on a regular basis and while he declined, other sheikhs did not.

'If you know, there is law that will help you, there is community that will help you. Why not? Why not change the law? Not an open door but in a way everyone will have control. It's a bit hard, very difficult, but unless we face it, how (do) we overcome it?' Chami asked.

25 June 2008

Source: Australian News.Net