February 03, 2008

Britain Legalizes Bigamy

(London) If this report doesn't make you think you've just stepped into a pile of dog leavings, probably nothing will.

Disregarding the fact that bigamy is punishable by seven years in prison, the British Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has ruled that multiple wives will be rewarded with extra benefits.

Although bigamy is a crime in the UK, if polygamous marriages -- usually by Muslims -- take place in countries where such arrangements are legal, they are allowed here.

And now men in such relationships can claim an extra £33.65 in income support for each additional wife -- on top of the weekly £92.80 payment made to traditional couples.

There is also the reward of being eligible for additional housing benefit and council tax benefit to reflect the larger property needed for his family.

Although nobody knows how many polygamous marriages exist in Britain, somebody guessed there may be as many as a thousand. Uh -- guess again, Karnak. I'd wager that the DWP just opened Pandora's Box.

More.

By at 09:47 AM | |