The main Islamic institution in Russia has issued a religious decree allowing Muslim men to practice polygamy, despite it being in violation of Russian law, which prohibits individuals from entering into multiple marriages simultaneously.
The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia’s Clerical Council issued the decree on December 18, granting Muslim men the right to enter up to four marriages at the same time, as long as certain conditions are met.
Russia’s Family Code prohibits individuals from registering a marriage with someone who is already married. However, this decision seems to have been made as Russian authorities face demographic challenges, including a declining population due to emigration, low birth rates, and high mortality rates.
Although the full decree has not yet been made public, key points have been reported by Russian news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti, outlining the conditions under which a man can practice polygamy.
The decree stipulates that a man may engage in polygamy if he guarantees equal treatment for all of his wives. This includes providing separate living arrangements for each wife, sharing time equally among them, and meeting their material needs.
If a man fails to meet these conditions, he is prohibited from entering into multiple marriages unless the women do not object.
Other conditions for polygamy include situations where the first wife cannot conceive due to health reasons or when a man wishes to provide social and financial support to multiple women.
Russian officials have yet to comment on the decree.
However, the Russian government has consistently attempted to encourage its citizens to have more children and has promoted policies aimed at fostering larger families.
The Russian Orthodox Church has also supported the government’s efforts to promote these policies.
