Score one for polygamous marriage: British ministers have decided that, even though polygamy is illegal in Britain, it can be recognized formally by the state if it took place in countries where it is legal.
Moreover, because of this recognition, a husband with multiple wives who is eligible for the dole will get extra benefits:
Husbands living in a "harem" with multiple wives have been cleared to claim state benefits for all their different partners.
A Muslim man with four spouses - which is permitted under Islamic law - could receive £10,000 a year in income support alone.
He could also be entitled to more generous housing and council tax benefit, to reflect the fact his household needs a bigger property.
http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2008/02/08/4834588-sun.html
(the only online source; it was on 2 radio stations this morning)
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Oh, please, Rocky.
You obviously haven't been to England lately.
The polygamists here in the U.S. regularly rely on welfare to support their families. Sexual abuse, incest, statutory rape, mental and physical abuse, murder and abandonment are part of the life of these polygamist communities.
As "G" mentioned, the boys are often dumped in cities, or simply disappear (there's a lot of empty desert there), at around age 14, as they are competition. There girls are usually married off at that age.
Again, if consenting adults choose to live a non-monogamous relationship, I don't have a problem, but I don't want to have to support your lifestyle, and I certainly am not going to support one that's illegal.