Polygamy in Turkey: Culture Clashes & Regrets

[Astronuc]

Polygamy Fosters Culture Clashes (and Regrets) in Turkey
NY Times, July 10, 2006

ISIKLAR, Turkey, July 6 — With his 5 wives, 55 children and 80 grandchildren, 400 sheep, 1,200 acres of land and a small army of servants, Aga Mehmet Arslan would seem an unlikely defender of monogamy.

Yet if he were young again, said Mr. Arslan, a sprightly, potbellied, 64-year-old Kurdish village chieftain, he would happily trade in his five wives for one.

"Marrying five wives is not sinful, and I did so because to have many wives is a sign of power," he said, perched on a divan in a large cushion-filled room at his house, where a portrait of Turkey's first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who outlawed polygamy in 1926, is prominently displayed.

"But I wouldn't do it again," he added, listing the challenges of having so many kin — like the need to build each wife a house away from the others to prevent friction and his struggle to remember all of his children's names. "I was uneducated back then, and God commands us to be fruitful and multiply."

Though banned by Ataturk as part of an effort to modernize the Turkish republic and empower women, polygamy remains widespread in this deeply religious and rural Kurdish region of southeastern Anatolia, home to one-third of Turkey's 71 million people. The practice is generally accepted under the Koran.

 

[arunbg]

Yet if he were young again, said Mr. Arslan, a sprightly, potbellied, 64-year-old Kurdish village chieftain, he would happily trade in his five wives for one.

I woder how many wives he has after that statement

"I was uneducated back then, and God commands us to be fruitful and multiply."

He must have heard from God when unicellular organisms ruled that part of the world.
Did God change his mind or somethin' ?

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I must approach this issue from a neutral and objective standpoint. While polygamy may be accepted under the Koran, it is important to recognize that it can lead to cultural clashes and regrets, as highlighted in this article.

From a scientific perspective, it is important to consider the impact of polygamy on the individuals involved, as well as on the larger society. In this case, Mr. Arslan's regret and acknowledgement that he would not choose polygamy again suggests that it may not be a sustainable or fulfilling lifestyle for all individuals.

Furthermore, polygamy can also lead to issues of inequality and power dynamics within relationships. This can have negative effects on the physical and mental well-being of individuals, particularly women who may be forced into polygamous marriages.

From a societal standpoint, polygamy can also have implications for population growth and resource distribution. With a large number of children and wives, Mr. Arslan's family requires significant resources and land, which may not be sustainable for the larger community.

Overall, it is important for societies to critically examine the cultural and religious practices that may have negative consequences for individuals and society as a whole. As scientists, it is our responsibility to use evidence-based research to inform discussions and decisions on such issues.