Russian Muslim clerics reverse polygamy ruling

The chief Islamic body originally endorsed having multiple wives, which is banned under national law

On December 17, the Council of Scholars of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia issued a fatwa, outlying conditions and circumstances, under which Muslim men are allowed to have “religious marriages” with more than one woman.

According to the document, a man can have up to four wives if he provides each wife with “equal material support” and a separate living space, as well as devotes “an equal amount of time” to them.

“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.”

The ruling was criticized by officials and ordinary Russians online. Kirill Kabanov, a member of the presidential Human Rights Council, accused DUM of attempting to impose Sharia law and “brazenly disrespecting” the Russian Constitution.

On Monday, several Russian news agencies reported that the Prosecutor General’s Office notified DUM that the fatwa was illegal under Russian law and went against “the state family policies.”

Several hours later, DUM announced the withdrawal of the fatwa, citing the notice from prosecutors and “the reaction of the Russian public.”

“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.

https://www.rt.com/russia/609850-russian-muslim-multiple-wives-fatwa/