Russia’s Muslim leaders greenlight polygamy

The decision has sparked criticism from lawmakers and the Russian Orthodox Church

Russia’s top Islamic authority will allow Muslim men to enter into multiple religious marriages and have up to four wives. The Council of Ulema of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) said Friday that the new fatwa was issued following the body’s meeting earlier this week.

The decision aligns with Islamic traditions but contradicts Russian civil law, which prohibits polygamy.

The regulation stipulates that a man can engage in polygamy only if he ensures equitable treatment for all wives, including equal financial support, separate housing for each spouse, and spends equal time with them according to an agreed schedule, Mufti of Moscow Ildar Alyautdinov explained in a post on Telegram on Friday.

This decision has sparked criticism from various quarters. Nina Ostanina, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women, and Children, emphasized that Russia is a secular state where all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation, must adhere to civil laws. In a comment for Gazeta.ru news outlet, she insisted that the fatwa contradicts Russia’s Constitution and family legislation, which define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

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Kirill Kabanov, a member of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, has slammed the decision and warned that such religious rulings might undermine the secular legal framework of the country. “As I understand it, the next step, logically, is the rejection/non-recognition of the Russian judicial system and the introduction of Sharia courts,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.

The Russian Orthodox Church rejects polygamy, with Vakhtang Kipshidze, Deputy Chairman of the Synodal Department, stating that Christian civilization is based on monogamy, which ensures equal dignity for both men and women in marriage.

While polygamy is practiced in some regions of Russia, particularly in the predominantly Muslim republics of the North Caucasus, it remains illegal under Russian civil law. According to the Family Code, a person who is in another registered marriage cannot enter into marriage. However, there is no punishment for polygamy in Russia.

Responding to the criticism, Ildar Alyautdinov defended the recent fatwa, stating it aims to protect women’s rights in religious marriages without violating Russian civil law. In a video message posted Friday, he clarified that the fatwa focuses on religious practices and seeks to ensure women and children are safeguarded within religious marriage, addressing situations where they might otherwise lack protection.