New Polygamy Law on Hold in 'Moderate Islamic' Country, Malaysia

Allahpundit points out that Malaysia's impending law legalizing polygamy is on hold--for now. Personally I think polygamy ought to be legal (but only good polygamy--two hot chicks), but Islamic law's version of unfair to women at best and a license for masogony at worst. AFP:

Malaysian women's groups claimed victory after the government put on hold contentious legislation which would have helped Muslim men to take multiple wives and claim property after divorce.

The government agreed to review the Islamic Family Law bill after it triggered a public outcry last month by forcing it through the upper house over the protests of women senators and civil society groups....

Malaysian Muslim men are allowed four wives under Islamic law, but under the new amendments they would no longer have to prove they are financially capable of treating all their wives equally before taking on another.

On taking a new wife, men could seize property belonging to existing wives, and they would be given new rights to claim assets after a divorce, as well as less obligation to pay compensation and maintenance.

Incidentally, I have a relative from Malaysia, but who is ethnically Chinese. When I mentioned to her a friend of mine from Malaysia she was excited...until she heard my friend was ethnically Malay. "Muslim?" she asked. "Yes." I answered. "The Muslims have ruined our country," she said with a scowl on her face. And that was the end of that conversation.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:06 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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