10 wives six too many for Malay man<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Six Moslem women pleaded not guilty in a
\nMalaysian court yesterday to charges of illegally marrying and
\nhaving sex with a religious teacher from Singapore, who already
\nhad four wives.<\/p>\n
The four legal wives also pleaded not guilty to charges in the
\nSyariah (religious) court in Malaysia's southern Johore state
\nthat they endorsed their husband's marriages with the six knowing
\nit was against Malaysia's Islamic laws.<\/p>\n
Abdul Talib Harun, 34, who has 17 children from his unions
\nwith the 10 women, was charged earlier this month in the same
\ncourt for breaching Islamic laws which allow a Moslem to have
\nonly four wives at one time.<\/p>\n
He also faces charges of being involved in deviationist
\nIslamic teachings.<\/p>\n
All the women, aged between 24 and 34 years, are from
\nSingapore and were alleged to have committed the offenses in
\nJohore between December 1992 and April 10 this year, Bernama news
\nagency reported from Johor Bahru, Johore's state capital.<\/p>\n
Malaysian authorities arrested Abu Talib, alias Ahmad
\nHabibullah Alsalafi, and the 10 women and confiscated several
\npornographic videotapes during a raid in Johor Bahru in April.<\/p>\n
Judge Zainuddin Munajat ordered the 10 women, who were not
\nrepresented by lawyers, to stand trial.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's Islamic laws govern how, and how often, Moslems
\nmarry, divorce and adopt children. The laws also cover Islamic
\ntaboos as drinking alcohol and failure to observe the Moslem
\nfasting month of Ramadhan.<\/p>\n
But criminal charges, whether against Moslems or non-Moslems,
\nare heard in secular courts under the federal penal code.<\/p>\n
Islam is the official religion in Malaysia but non-Moslems,
\nwho comprise less than half of the 18 million population, are
\nallowed freedom of worship under the federal constitution.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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