Posted on 07/10/2006 3:21:43 PM PDT by The Lion Roars
Though banned by Ataturk as part of an effort to modernize the Turkish republic and empower women, polygamy remains widespread in this deeply religious and rural Kurdish region of southeastern Anatolia, home to one-third of Turkey's 71 million people. The practice is generally accepted under the Koran.
Polygamy is creating cultural clashes in a country struggling to reconcile the secularism of the republic with its Muslim traditions. It also risks undermining Turkey's drive to gain entry into the European Union.
"The E.U. is looking for any excuse not to let Turkey in, and polygamy reinforces the stereotype of Turkey as a backward country," said Handan Coskun, director of a women's center.
Because polygamous marriages are not recognized by the state — imams who conduct them are subject to punishment — the wives have no legal status, making them vulnerable when marriages turn violent. Yet the local authorities here typically turn a blind eye because the practice is viewed as a tradition.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Ya'know .... there is a downside to polygamy ...
You think you have it rough with just one Mother-in-law?
Not MUCH different than many American males, that go for the one night stand, having dozens of women. In disco Americana culture this is GOOD, so why is it bad in Turkey?
Meh. If gays can marry, heterosexuals should be able to marry as many women as they can afford.
Things may work out.
Is it possible to have gay sex with fourteen-year-olds?
Inquiring European MP's want to know.
American males, that go for the one night stand, having dozens of women.
Dozens??
Baaaah, try hundreds, thousands!
We are viril disco males, not metrosexuals!
We're gonna boogieugiugi till we just can't boogie no mo...
I'll get flamed for this, but let me first say that I am an evangelical Christian who is as far right as Ghengis Khan and hasn't voted for a Democrat for dogcatcher.
That said, I think that excluding Turkey for reasons of polygamy is stupid. Europe already allows gay marriage, and more than 50% of European children are already born out of wedlock. And, we all remember that recent "marriage" where two women and one man in Holland married each other -- e.g., polyandry.
Don't get me wrong -- I'm not endorsing such immoral behavior -- but the EU already allows any form of relationship to constitute marriage, so why not polygamy?
Man!!! I coulda had a V-8!!
bah, it's not the polygamy, it's the crappy economy and worthless turkish lira
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