International
Indonesia mulls widening polygamy ban http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Indonesia+mulls+widening+polygamy+ban&id=97495
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 (Jakarta):
Indonesia is considering banning ministers, lawmakers and other government officials from practicing polygamy.
Woman's Affairs Minister Meutia Hatta said that a 1983 law forbidding civil servants from polygamy, passed by then-dictator Suharto reportedly under pressure from his wife, could be expanded to included ministers, parliamentarians and governors, among others.
The move came after the country's most popular Islamic preacher Aa Gym took a second wife, sparking renewed debate about the practice.
A charismatic preacher and television personality, Aa Gym has a strong female following and has often preached about family values.
There are no plans to outlaw polygamy all together in the world's most populous Muslim nation.
Currently, men are only allowed to have a second wife if his first is an invalid, terminally ill or infertile. But the regulation is rarely enforced and most commentators say the practice is becoming more common. (AP)