Justice Minister Heiko Maas has promised to clamp down on polygamy, preventing Muslims in Germany from maintaining multiple marriages. "No one who comes to us has the right to put their cultural roots, or their religious beliefs, above our laws," Maas told Tuesday's edition of "Bild" newspaper. "For that reason multiple marriages cannot be recognized in Germany.
"Though polygamy is already outlawed in Germany, the newspaper alleged that German authorities "often look the other way" if a Muslim migrant brings several wives into the country. [...]
Germany seems to have painted itself into a corner on the issue in 2009, when the marital status law was changed so that religious weddings did not have to be preceded by a state marriage. This was done partly to accommodate immigrants from countries such as Israel and several Muslim countries that do not have an official state marriage system, as well as to bring Germany in line with international standards.
But the measure was strongly criticized at the time by the human rights group Terre des Femmes, which said the alteration meant that, in practice, women were more likely to be left economically dependent on their husbands, since they would not necessarily be entitled to alimony if the marriage failed.
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