That's what Malaysia is telling its Muslim men who want to remarry
That's what Malaysia is telling its Muslim men who want to remarry
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Wan Ubaidah Omar, a cabinet minister from northern Kelantan, said the proposal aired in state parliament this week was needed to help single mothers and widows in the under-developed region.
"Muslim men usually like young girls or virgins as their additional wives, so I suggest instead of taking these young virgin girls, why don't they marry the single mothers?" she said.
"This will ease the burden of the single mothers as the men can help them to take care of their children," said Ubaidah, who is in charge of women, family and health affairs in the state.
Not for polygamy
Muslim men in Malaysia are allowed to marry up to four women but Islamic courts must approve multiple marriages before they take place.
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Women's groups here have campaigned against polygamy, saying it is cruel and has deviated from its original purpose in Islam, which was to protect widows and orphans.
Ubaidah said her call was not meant to encourage polygamy but to help the 16,500 single mums aged under 60 in Kelantan, a state that has one of the highest divorce rates in the country.
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