Bill allowing men to have multiple wives causes controversy in Indonesia

Women in Aceh, on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, have spoken out against a proposal to legalize polygamy that is being debated by the local legislative assembly. Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that has the autonomy to pass laws based on Sharia law.

Women in the province are concerned that if legalized, the law will "normalize the practice of men having multiple wives and seven concubines", which is already very common in the province, affecting their rights and those of their future children.

"Acehnese women do not need this law. No woman wants her husband to have many wives, as evidenced by the high divorce rate in Aceh," said Ms. Samsidar.

Roslina Rasyid, head of the Aceh Legal Aid Foundation, said many women in the province divorce their husbands when they take second wives. "Husbands who take multiple wives often neglect their wives and do not provide for their children's lives," Roslina said.

Irwandi Yusuf, the former governor of Aceh province, was one of the most vocal proponents of polygamy. Yusuf admitted to wanting to marry a former model and local media reported that he had taken a second wife, although this was not confirmed. Yusuf was removed from office after being sentenced to seven years in prison in April for his role in a corruption case.

Women's rights activists in Indonesia fear that if the proposed law is passed in Aceh, other provinces will follow suit. "This law could make polygamy a part of the culture, like the rule that Muslim women are forced to wear veils," said Samsidar, a women's rights activist in Aceh.

Polygamy has long been practiced in Aceh and other parts of Indonesia. It has become more common today thanks to the rise of dating apps that make it easier for men to find a second wife. Under Indonesian marriage law, men are allowed to have multiple wives under certain religious and cultural conditions.

"In Islamic law, a man can marry four wives. The limit here is four, if he wants to marry a fifth wife, he has to divorce one," said Musannif, spokesman for the Aceh provincial legislative council.

Musannif said that if passed, the law would require a husband to seek his wife's permission before marrying a new wife, although this is not "absolutely mandatory" under Islamic law.