Red Magician Claims Islamic Jurisprudence Does Not Require First Wife's Consent for Polygamy
Jakarta — Indonesian entertainer Marcel Radhival, popularly known as Pesulap Merah (Red Magician), has drawn public attention with his latest admission that he did not seek his first wife's permission before entering into a polygamous marriage in 2022.
Marcel explained the reasoning behind his decision, emphasising what he described as a fundamental distinction between the provisions of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqih) and Indonesian state law. According to his interpretation of Islamic fiqih, consent from the first wife is not a prerequisite for a valid second marriage.
"There are two legal frameworks in Indonesia. First, there is Islamic fiqih law. Under Islamic fiqih, the first wife's consent is not a requirement for marriage," Marcel said when met in the Gandaria area of South Jakarta on Monday, 16 February 2026.
He went on to compare the religious and state legal frameworks. Marcel acknowledged that under Indonesian law, the first wife's consent is indeed required, particularly for the processing of official marriage documents.
"Then there is the second framework — Indonesian law. Under Indonesian law, as agreed upon in this country, the first wife's permission is mandatory for document processing. Now, because marriage is an act of worship, it is part of religious devotion, and so at that time in 2022 I was also considering the condition of my first wife, who was ill," he continued.
At the time, his first wife, Tika Mega Lestari, was reportedly suffering from aplastic anaemia. Marcel stated that the condition had been diagnosed before he remarried. He recounted having to travel back and forth to hospital and to Jakarta during that period, which is how he eventually met Ratu Rizky Nabila.
"The aplastic anaemia was severe. I hadn't yet remarried when it was discovered. After the diagnosis, I was going back and forth to hospital and also travelling to Jakarta. Eventually I met Ratu while working at one of my engagements," he explained.
Marcel further admitted that he harboured concerns about informing his first wife of his plans for a second marriage. He felt that her physical and mental health could be adversely affected by the news. At the same time, he expressed confidence in his ability to fulfil his responsibilities fairly.
Marcel explained the reasoning behind his decision, emphasising what he described as a fundamental distinction between the provisions of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqih) and Indonesian state law. According to his interpretation of Islamic fiqih, consent from the first wife is not a prerequisite for a valid second marriage.
"There are two legal frameworks in Indonesia. First, there is Islamic fiqih law. Under Islamic fiqih, the first wife's consent is not a requirement for marriage," Marcel said when met in the Gandaria area of South Jakarta on Monday, 16 February 2026.
He went on to compare the religious and state legal frameworks. Marcel acknowledged that under Indonesian law, the first wife's consent is indeed required, particularly for the processing of official marriage documents.
"Then there is the second framework — Indonesian law. Under Indonesian law, as agreed upon in this country, the first wife's permission is mandatory for document processing. Now, because marriage is an act of worship, it is part of religious devotion, and so at that time in 2022 I was also considering the condition of my first wife, who was ill," he continued.
At the time, his first wife, Tika Mega Lestari, was reportedly suffering from aplastic anaemia. Marcel stated that the condition had been diagnosed before he remarried. He recounted having to travel back and forth to hospital and to Jakarta during that period, which is how he eventually met Ratu Rizky Nabila.
"The aplastic anaemia was severe. I hadn't yet remarried when it was discovered. After the diagnosis, I was going back and forth to hospital and also travelling to Jakarta. Eventually I met Ratu while working at one of my engagements," he explained.
Marcel further admitted that he harboured concerns about informing his first wife of his plans for a second marriage. He felt that her physical and mental health could be adversely affected by the news. At the same time, he expressed confidence in his ability to fulfil his responsibilities fairly.