MIZULINA: THERE IS NO PLAN TO LEGALIZE POLYGAMY IN RUSSIA
Internet-Religiia, 22 May 2015
The head of the Duma Committee on Issues of the Family, Women, and Children, Elena Mizulina, declared that there will be no legalization of polygamy in Russia. "Legalization of polygamy if not being planned; this is not on the front burner and such suggestions have not been received," E. Mizulina said on Friday in the course of "speech hour" in the State Duma.
Public discussion about polygamy unfolded in Russia in May after the notorious Chechen wedding of the chief of the police of Nozhai-Yurtov district, Nazhud Guchigov, and 17-year-old Luiza Goilabieva. Rights advocates expressed concern with regard to the minor age of the bride, the very great difference in age between her and the groom, and the allegation that the latter has a second wife.
The head of the administration and government of Chechnya, Magomed Daudov, expressed the opinion that it might be possible to legalize polygamy in Russia, basing this on the fact that such a practice is widespread in the Caucasus. However he emphasized that he had not sent such suggestions anywhere.
In his turn, the speaker of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, told Interfax a few days ago that she does not support the idea of introducing polygamy into Russia and she called for strengthening the traditional family.
The church perceived the discussion based on the notorious wedding in Chechnya as an information attack by opponents of the traditional family. "It is curious that those circles that are now criticizing the polygyny, i.e., polygamy, that actually exists in the northern Caucasus have often spoken out for same-sex marriage," the head of the synod's Department for Relations of Church and Society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, told Interfax-Religiia.
On his part, the head of the International Islamic Mission, the famous mufti Shafig Pshikhachev, told Interfax-Religiia that polygamy is a reality in Russia: "Whether it is expressed as civil marriage or as officially registered marriage, in any case polygamy cannot be escaped."
Sh. Pshikhachev, who is well acquainted with
the situation in the northern Caucasus, noted that peoples in this
region have a number of polygamists. "This proportion is more
prominent in Dagestan and Chechnya, and somewhat less in
Ingushetia. It is not especially advertised. Two adults come to an
agreement and they may form their marriage on the basis of
Sharia," he explained. (tr. by PDS, posted 24 May 2015)
COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHECHNYA SPEAKS OUT FOR LEGALIZATION OF POLYGAMY
Nurdi Nukhazhiev, the commissioner for human rights in Chechnya, advocated legalization of polygamy in Chechnya. In his opinion, this would facilitate solving many problems of society. Nukhazhiev's words, posted on the website of the commissioner for human rights in the Chechen republic, were quoted on 22 May by the Dozhd television channel.
"Actually, the institution of polygamy permits the solution of many problems of society: moral, spiritual, ethical, demographic, humanitarian, and so forth. And if one speaks generally, this is the legal married life of hundreds of thousands of women and hundreds of thousands of children, who will have legal biological fathers," Nukhazhiev's words appeared on the website.
The commissioner for human rights in Chechnya complained that there are in the country those who are working for legalization of prostitution, same-sex marriages, and the rights of sexual minorities to the adoption of children. However, he said, when Muslims begin talking about "their right," people get up in arms.
"According to the logic of opponents of polygamy it turns out that to conduct an immoral lifestyle and to have a mistress on the side is normal and, so to speak, civilized. The most important thing is that according to the passport there is one spouse. Incidentally, in this environment there is nothing improper if one's spouse is not the 'legal spouse' on the passport. While it is possible to get a divorce without violating the law and to abandon one's children and wife, after sealing a new marriage, and so on to infinity," Nukhazhiev explains.
He said that it would be useful to transfer the solution of specific questions to the purview of legal bodies of government in the component entities [of the federation—tr.]. In his opinion this would be useful for both citizens and the country.
On 19 May, the head of the administration of Chechnya, Magomed Daudov, also spoke out for legalization of polygamy. He said that polygamy is common and this means that "it would not be bad to fix this somehow." (tr. by PDS, posted 24 May 2015)
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