Government to consider lifting ban on polygamy
Government to consider lifting ban on polygamy
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tolchah Hasan said
on Monday that he would consider demands to end a ban on polygamy
for civil servants which has been in force since the 1970s.
"If the proposal reflects the aspirations of the people, then
the government will welcome it," Tolchah was quoted by Antara as
saying, responding to an appeal by United Islam (Persis) at its
congress which ended in Jakarta on Monday.
The government regulation against polygamy, popularly known as
PP10, states that a civil servant must seek the approval of his
superior before he can take a second wife. The rule further
states that such an approval would only be forthcoming if the
first wife approved the idea in the first place.
Islam allows a man to have up to four wives under very strict
conditions, including the ability to act and provide for fairly
among the wives and only with the consent of the first wives.
When PP10 was introduced, it was intended to supplement
protection for women in the face of possible abuses by a husband
who wanted to take a second wife. The regulation was supported by
then first lady Mrs. Tien Soeharto and widely opposed by Muslim
organizations.
Persis chairman Siddiq Amien said PP10 contravened Islamic
teachings and that it had led to a greater incidence of
extramarital affairs in society.
"Prostitution and adultery have become widespread because of
the ban against men who have the ability to marry again," he was
quoted by Antara as saying.
Some logically turned to vice for compensation, he argued.
Siddiq, who heads the Benda pesantren (Muslim boarding school)
in Tasikmalaya, West Java, said as long as PP10 remained in
force, the number of people visiting brothels would not decline.
He said in Islam, the word "fair" did not mean "giving equal
treatment" to all the wives, but "to act in a proportional
manner".
"People have different needs. The ones in the city have
different needs from the ones in the rural areas," he said. (emb)