Editing Polygyny (section)

=== Europe ===

====Bosnia and Herzegovina====
The Muslim communities of [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] traditionally practiced polygamy but the practice was last observed in [[Cazin|Cazinska Krajina]] in the early 1950s.<ref>[http://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Bosnian-Americans.html "Bosnian Americans" – History, Modern era, The first Bosnians in America<!-- Bot generated title -->], Every Culture</ref> Although illegal in the country, polygamy is encouraged by certain religious circles, and the number of practitioners has increased. This trend appears linked with the advent of fundamentalist [[Wahhabism]] in the [[Balkans]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/insight/opinions.php?nav_id=40280|title=Emissaries of Militant Islam Make Headway in Bosnia|work=B92.net|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref>

The [[Bosniaks|Bosniak]] population in neighbouring [[Raška, Serbia|Raška]], [[Serbia]], has also been influenced by this trend in Bosnia. They have suggested creating an entire Islamic jurisdiction including polygamy, but these proposals have been rejected by Serbia. The top cleric, the Mufti of [[Novi Pazar]], Muamer Zukorlić, has taken a second wife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd%5B157%5D=x-157-546374|title=Bosnia and Herzegovina: The veil comes down, again – Women Reclaiming and Redefining Cultures|work=wluml.org|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-date=29 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429193723/http://www.wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd%5B157%5D=x-157-546374}}</ref>

====Russia====
Factual polygamy and sexual relationships with several adult partners are not punishable in accordance with current revisions of [[Criminal Code of Russia]] and [[Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses]]. But multiple marriage cannot be registered and officially recognised by Russian authorities because [[Family Code of Russia]] (section 14 and others) prohibits registration of marriage if one of person is in another registered marriage in Russia or another country. Polygamy is tolerated in predominantly Muslim republics such as [[Chechnya]], [[Ingushetia]], and [[Dagestan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article338474.ece |location=London |first=Andrew |last=Osborn |title=War-ravaged Chechnya needs polygamy, says its leader |work=The Independent |date=2006-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117043122/http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article338474.ece |archive-date=2006-01-17 }}</ref>

Chechen politician [[Ramzan Kadyrov]] actively advocated for polygynous marriage to gain legal recognition. Muslim leaders such as [[Talgat Tadzhuddin]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rosbalt.ru/main/2006/01/13/240493.html|title=Верховный муфтий России – за многоженство [Chief Mufti of Russia supports polygamy] (in Russian).|last=Rosbalt|date=13 January 2006|access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref> also pushed for the legal recognition of polygynous marriage.

Polygyny was legalized and documented in unrecognised [[Chechen Republic of Ichkeria]] but Russian authorities had annulled these polygynous marriages after they regained control over territory of Ichkeria. Later Ramzan Kadyrov, President of the [[Chechen Republic]], has been quoted on radio as saying that the depopulation of [[Chechnya]] by war justifies legalizing polygamy.<ref>[http://pilegesh.blogspot.com/2007/02/i-do-i-do-i-do-i-do-economic-case-for.html "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do: The Economic Case for Polygamy"], Pilegesh.org blog</ref> Kadyrov has been supported by Nafigallah Ashirov, the Chairman of the Council of Grand [[Mufti]]s of Russia, who has said that polygamy is already widespread among Muslim communities of the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32064 |title=Inter Press Service – News and Views from the Global South |work=ipsnews.net |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212142650/http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=32064 |archive-date=12 February 2012 }}</ref>

In Ingushetia in July, 1999 polygyny was officially recognised and allowed by edict of president of Ingushetia [[Ruslan Aushev]] and registration of polygyny marriages had been started allowing men to marry up to four wives as it relates to Muslim tradition. But this edict had been formally suspended soon by edict of [[President of Russia]] [[Boris Yeltsin]]. One year later this edict of Aushev had been cancelled by the Supreme Court of Ingushetia because of contradiction with Family Code of Russia.<ref name="Aushev Lentapedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.lenta.ru/lib/14163106/full.htm |title=Лентапедия. Биография Руслана Аушева |language=ru |access-date=2009-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101021758/http://lenta.ru/lib/14163106/full.htm |archive-date=2011-11-01 }}</ref>

Although non-Muslim Russian populations have historically practiced monogamy, Russian politician [[Vladimir Zhirinovsky]] offered to legalize polygyny to encourage population growth and correct the [[Russia demographics#Demographic crisis|demographic crisis of Russians]]. Zhirinovsky first proposed to legalize polygyny in 1993, after Kadyrov's declaration that he would introduce an amendment to legalize polygyny for all Russian citizens.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=14235 Vladimir Zhirinovsky Op-Ed: "When One Wife Is Not Enough"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202658/http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=14235 |date=2007-09-30 }}, ''The St. Petersburg Times''</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4610396.stm | work=BBC News | title=Polygamy proposal for Chechen men | date=2006-01-13}}</ref>

====Serbia====
Serbian Law, which in turn is based on the French Civil Code, permits individuals to only be married monogamously. However, the jurisdiction of the civil law exclusively oversees the marriages conducted in civilian ceremonies, and not those conducted in the religious ones. Given that the law does not require couples to register a religious marriage in the registry of civil marriages (whilst in the neighbouring Bosnia, failing to do so can result in a fine), individuals seeking to practice polygamy are not restricted to do so. One of the best known examples was the chief Mufti of the Islamic Community in Serbia, Dr. Muamer Zukorlic, who was simultaneously married to three women.

====United Kingdom====
In the UK, there are believed to be up to 20,000 polygamous marriages in Britain's Muslim community,<ref>http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/channel-4-documentary-gains-access-to-the-men-with-many-wives "The Men with many wives" by Channel 4</ref> even though bigamy is an offence.<ref>http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/24-25/100/crossheading/bigamy/enacted Offences Against the Person Act 1861</ref> All marriages that happen within the United Kingdom must be monogamous and meet the requirements of the relevant legislation to be perceived as legitimately substantial. For polygamous unions in the UK to be viewed as valid, the people must live in a country where a person is allowed to have more than one spouse and get married in a nation that permits it. There is evidence of unregistered polygamous marriages in the UK, performed through religious ceremonies, that are not recognized under UK law.<ref name=":9">{{Citation|last1=Fairbairn|first1=Catherine|last2=Kennedy|first2=Steven|last3=Gower|first3=Melanie|date=1 February 2023|title=Research Briefing: Polygamy|url=https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN05051|publisher=House of Commons Library; United Kingdom Parliament}}</ref>