Second wife's photo taken down

Second wife's photo taken down

BRUNEI: The people of Brunei have begun taking down portraits of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's second wife from shops and offices after their divorce was announced, witnesses said on Tuesday.

An announcement on state-run television late Sunday said Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has divorced his second wife, former flight stewardess Mariam Abdul Aziz, and ordered all her royal titles to be withdrawn.

Many citizens of this oil-rich sultanate could be seen taking down portraits of Bolkiah's second wife, traditionally placed on the left side of the Sultan's picture.

In largely Muslim Brunei, where the sultan rules as an absolute monarch, the portraits of Bolkiah's two wives hung alongside his own picture in commercial outlets and government offices. Wife number one has her portrait on the right side. The portrait of wife number two was on the left side and placed slightly lower than the first wife. --AFP