Malaysia passes contentious law

Malaysia passes contentious law

MALAYSIA: Malaysia's upper house of parliament passed contentious amendments to a Muslim family law despite protests by female senators that the changes would make it easier for men to practice polygamy and divorce their wives.

Senators debated the amendments to the Islamic Family Law for hours before passing them a little before midnight on Thursday.

Currently, Malaysia's 13 states enforce slightly differing versions of the Islamic Family Law, which governs the rights of Muslims in matrimonial issues. The government says the amendments will standardize the law across this mostly Muslim nation.

Among the contentious provisions, Muslim men who wish to marry more than one wife will only need to prove that their decision is "just or necessary". Previously, they had to prove that it was "just and necessary". Islam allows men to marry up to four wives.

The changes would also give men additional rights to obtain a divorce and to assert claims over their wives' properties. -- AP