1. Afghanistan: The Quran allows men to have up to four wives in Afghanistan. All of a man`s wives are treated equally. As a result, polygamy is recognized and widespread in Afghanistan. However, the rules are rarely followed. Afghans are also allowed to have an unlimited number of spouses or concubines. The legal status of polygamy varies widely around the world. Polygamy is legal in 58 of the approximately 200 sovereign states, the vast majority of which are Muslim-majority countries. Polyandry is illegal in virtually all countries and strictly forbidden in Islam. [ref. needed] Several non-Muslim countries (particularly in sub-Saharan Africa) allow polygamy among Muslims in their communities.

Some countries that allow polygamy have restrictions, such as requiring the first wife to give consent. Polygamy is practiced in Cameron as a symbol of wealth and status for men. It is practiced mainly in rural areas. Unlike other countries, men in Cameroon do not limit the number of women a man can take. However, polygamy is slowly decreasing for economic and social reasons. Some countries where polygamy is legal are not signatories to the ICCPR, including Qatar, Oman, Malaysia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan and the United Arab Emirates; so that the ICCPR does not apply to these countries. [152] The Department of Justice Canada has argued that polygamy is a violation of international human rights law. [153] Polygamy is legal in Algeria, where a man can take up to four wives. But recent amendments to Algeria`s Family Code have made it difficult to conclude such marriages.

Therefore, the occurrence of polygamy was rare. Currently, however, only 3% of the population practices polygamy. 9. United Arab Emirates: Polygamy is allowed in the United Arab Emirates. Polygamy among Muslims varies widely in practice and legality in the Islamic world. Polygamy is very common in some Muslim countries, but rare or not in the majority. Debates on the legalization of polygamous marriages continue in Central Asian countries. [ref.

needed] De facto polygamy is common in countries where only monogamous marriage is legally legitimate. There is no legal recognition for additional spouses after the first one in places like these, where polygamy is prohibited but tolerated. In 2008, beginning April 4, Texas state authorities temporarily detained 436 women and children after Rozita Swinton, a 33-year-old woman who lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, called Texas Social Services and a local animal shelter claiming to be a 16-year-old girl. In late March, she phoned the authorities, claiming she had been beaten and forced to become the “spiritual” wife of an adult man. In response to their calls, authorities raided the Eldorado ranch, about 40 miles south of San Angelo. YFZ Ranch belongs to The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), a Mormon offshoot that practices polygamy. Two men were arrested for obstructing the raid, but were later released. Several men were convicted of sexual assault, rape and bigamy of underage girls.

[45] [46] [47] After Joseph Smith`s death, polygamy continued in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), then led by Brigham Young. In the area that became Utah and some surrounding areas, plural marriage was openly practiced by followers of the LDS Church. In 1852 Young felt safe enough at LDS Church in Utah to publicly announce his practice of polygamy. However, opposition from the U.S. government threatened the legal status of the LDS Church. Wilford Woodruff announced on September 25, 1890 that the LDS Church had officially abandoned the practice. Woodruff`s declaration was officially accepted at a general conference of the Church on October 6, 1890. The LDS Church`s position on the practice of polygamy was reaffirmed in 1904 by another official statement entitled “Second Manifesto”, reaffirming polygamy.

[27] In most countries, a person who marries one person while still legally married to another commits bigamy, a crime, although penalties vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In addition, the second and subsequent marriages are considered null and void. However, Conor Freidersdorf argues in The Atlantic that legalizing polygamy can supposedly lead to higher levels of rape, kidnapping, murder, robbery, and assault. Europe, Australia and America are among the territories where polygamy is completely prohibited. In 1998, about 40,000 people living in Utah were part of polygamous families, or about 1.4 percent of the population. [37] Polygamists have been difficult to prosecute, as many apply for marriage licenses only for their first marriage, while other marriages are celebrated secretly in private ceremonies. After that, secondary brides try to be seen in public as single women with children. [37] Polygamous marriages are not recognized in Europe or Oceania, with the exception of Solomon Islands. Polygamous marriages are recognized by the governments of India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, but only for Muslims. Polygamy is illegal in Australia, but common in some indigenous tribes. In some places in Indonesia, such as Bali, Papua and West Papua, polygamy is allowed.

3. Pakistan: Polygamy is legal in Pakistan under a 1961 law.