Despite being illegal, polygamous marriage remains alive and well in Ethiopia, and that poses some obvious challenges when it comes to land rights. Statistics from 2011 reveal that 11 percent of married women in Ethiopia share a husband with one or two other wives.

Can Ethiopians have multiple wives?

While polygamy in Ethiopia has been formally abolished in the Family and Criminal Code of Ethiopia, the practice is still common with five percent of married Ethiopian men (mostly among Muslims and pagans) having more than one wife. Several stories of polygamous groupings have made international news.

What cultures do not allow polygamy?

In South Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Morocco and Malaysia – and in Iran and Libya (with the written consent of the first wife). In other places – such as Israel, Chechnya and Burma – it is illegal but the law is not enforced.

Is forced marriage a crime in Ethiopia?

Since 2004, the Ethiopian penal code forbids girls to get married before the age of 18, and punishes marriage by abduction with up to 20 years imprisonment.

Is abduction legal in Ethiopia?

Though both abduction and rape are crimes under Ethiopian law, abductors and rapists who marry their victims were not subject to punishment under the Ethiopian penal code.

Is polygamy common in Africa?

Polygamy is most often found in sub-Saharan Africa, where 11% of the population lives in arrangements that include more than one spouse. Polygamy is widespread in a cluster of countries in West and Central Africa, including Burkina Faso, (36%), Mali (34%) and Nigeria (28%).

Why did the Prophet marry more than 4 wives?

He married each of his wives thereafter for a social or political purpose; such that he wanted to honor the pious women, or wanted the loyalty of certain tribes so that Islam would spread amongst them. All the wives Muhammad married were not virgin, nor were they young or beautiful.

What are the causes of polygamy?

The sexual disparity, excessive pugnacity, and ability to en- dure protracted fasts are all intimately related to polygamy, either as cause or effect. Up to a certain point pugnacity and disparity seem to have acted as causes of polygamy.

Is Ethiopia part of the Hague Convention?

Ethiopia is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between Ethiopia and the United States concerning international parental child abduction.