In case you are wondering what this law is about, here are 5 things to know about the compulsory polygamy law in this small African country
Polygamy (from Late Greek πολυγαμία, polygamía, “state of marriage to many spouses”) is the practice of marrying multiple spouses.
When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry.
Polygamy is the act or condition of a person marrying another person while still being lawfully married to another spouse.
The key to a long life could be as simple as getting a second wife. Research suggests that men from polygamist cultures live 12 per cent longer than those who limit their affections to one woman at a time
Some of the most popular proponents of polygyny in history have been Mormons, famously depicted in HBO drama Big Love and reality series Sister Wives. Polygamy is legal in 58 out of 200 countries around the world. Plural marriage was permitted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1852 and 1890.
Moslems make up a slim majority of the nation’s population, and Islamic law allows a man to have four wives. But anyone, whether Moslem or Christian, can choose to wed under Nigeria’s Marriage Act, which legally recognizes only one wife.
In most West African countries, polygamy is also recognised and regulated by the civil law that allows a man to marry up to four women under certain conditions, including the financial capacity to support multiple wives and families. In practice, a polygamous union is in most cases limited to two women per couple.
In a world where polygamy is shunned in some parts, it has become legal to practice polygamy in other parts (taking away religion).
One of such places is Eritrea. In case you are wondering what this law is about, here are 5 things to know about the compulsory polygamy law in this small African country.
1. It’s now a crime for men to practice monogamy in Eritrea.
2. It was learnt that the mandatory polygamy was put in place by the country’s government, a memo was circulated by activists who alleged that the government asked men to marry two wives due to shortage of the menfolk caused by casualties during the civil war with Ethiopia.
3. Citizens in other countries like Kenya are said to be excited about the news because they can change citizenships and marry beautiful Eritrean women.
4. The government wholly supports polygamous marriages now in Eritrea
5. The penalty for refusing to marry at least two wives is life imprisonment with hard labour
