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BERLIN: Germany will not recognize polygamy or marriages involving minors, its justice minister said Tuesday, as concern rises over such cases amid a record influx of refugees, many from Muslim countries.
“No-one who comes here has the right to put his cultural values or religious beliefs above our law,” said Justice Minister Heiko Maas in an interview with Bild daily. “Therefore no polygamous marriages will be recognized in Germany.”
In Germany, however, polygamy is banned although the law provides latitude in some cases for migrants who had wedded abroad.
For instance, if a man dies leaving two wives, a court could take into account their de-facto relationship, which is bigamous under common law, when distributing the inheritance.
But Maas wants to end the ambiguity, saying: “Everybody must abide by the law, no matter whether he has grown up here or has only just arrived. The law applies equally to all.”
Likewise, the justice minister said cases of marriages involving a minor should also be outlawed, for fear that the underaged individual has been forced into marrying.
“We cannot tolerate forced marriages, above all, if they affect under-aged girls,” Maas said.