Safa Rigby's Case Of Polygamy

Safa Rigby is a Muslim woman who found out that her husband of 14 years had married two other women in Toronto while she was out of the country. Being Muslim does not mean that Safa Rigby practiced polygamy. In this case, the issue is that her husband married other women without her consent, resulting in a decline in her health . The Imam, religious scholar, that conducted the marriage ceremony is known to have conducted over 20 polygamous marriages. Despite this knowledge, no action has been taken against him even though polygamy is illegal and he was aware of that when he conducted the marriage ceremonies . Islamically, the purpose of polygamy was to protect women, but clearly in this case, and in many others, it is doing the opposite. Since polygamy is not legal and has no regulation, there is no legal protection for Safa Rigby or even the other wives.

Considerations

Whether polygamy is legal or illegal, there still needs to be a support system in place for those left vulnerable by the practice.

While Section 293 may have come about as a response to the growing Mormon community in the late 1880’s that practiced

In the Quran is states that “You cannot be equitable in a polygamous relationship, no matter how hard you try .” It does set out rules and regulations for those that may decide to enter a polygamous union in order to protect those involved. Similarily, increasing programs for those already involved in polygamous relationships in Canada, whether willingly, forced, or unknowingly, and for those immigrating to Canada, would be a recommended step for the Canadian government to help protect women and children and also men that may become victims of unwanted polygamous unions. This does not mean Canada needs to de-criminalize polygamy, but that because it is already recognized that polygamy takes place, there should be more done to protect those that may be made vulnerable by