.bmp)
.bmp)
A SMALL number of Victorian Muslims are living in polygamist relationships but shouldn't be seen as a threat to Australia's way of life, Islamic community members say. Some Muslim men, mainly from Sudan, Jordan or Egypt, have immigrated with two or more wives, but their multiple marriages are not recognised by Australian law. A handful have also been known to approach local imams seeking permission for a second marriage, but are generally told polygamy is illegal.Islamic community leader Yasser Soliman said polygamist marriages were rare in Australia but did occur."I have heard of some occasions where women have been asked to become a second wife," Mr Soliman said. "While the issue should be discussed in an open democracy like Australia, I don't think it should be discussed in terms of any threat to the Australian way of life." He said polygamy was also seen in Christian and secular communities overseas. Sydney cleric Sheik Khalil Chami has questioned whether the law should be changed to allow polygamist marriages on cultural or religious grounds. Islamic community spokesman Keysar Trad said he once considered taking a second wife, but decided against it."Rather than entertain any thoughts of an affair, I thought the only decent thing to do was to consider a proper commitment to that person," he said. Mr Trad said Australia should look at British laws that gave legal protection to women in a polygamist relationship. He was aware of several polygamist marriages in Australia, particularly involving wealthy men.But Islamic law now restricted multiple wives to four and he believed any change to the status of polygamy in Australia would not mean more multiple marriages. Islamic Council of Victoria spokeswoman Sherene Hassan said there was no call for change."The vast majority of Muslims are committed to monogamy - this is not something we are pushing for. "I don't know anyone who is a polygamist," she said. Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the law would not change. "Everyone should be on notice that the law in Australia is that marriage is between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others," he said. "That's based on a long tradition. It's based on the culture of our community, and polygamous relationships are entirely inconsistent with that culture, and indeed with the law. "Polygamous relationships are and will remain unlawful."As in the days of Noah....
