KYRGYZSTAN: LEGALIZING POLYGAMY: A REAL THREAT?

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SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: LEGALIZING POLYGAMY: A REAL THREAT?

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Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: While the issue of polygamy in Kyrgyzstan has
been raised before, t(e topic is now being actively debated
in Kyrg9z society as a result of Parliament's recent
consideration and rejection of a bill to decriminalize the
practice. The wide-spread debate of this issue shows how the
KYrgyz continue to reach back to traditions from pre-Soviet
past and how prominent government officials can influence
trends in Kyrgyz society in an attempt to legitimize their
own personal choices. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On February 28, the Women's Political Discussion
Club, a group of profe3sional women, held one of it3
bimonthly discussion meetings on the topic of polygamy in
Kyrgyz society. The debate attracted many high-level
government officials as well as active leaders of NGO's and
international organizations ijcluding the Minister of Justice
Mr. Marat Kayipov; the representative of the President on
gender issues in the Parliament (Jogorku Kenesh),Ms. Anara
Niyazova; an attorney from the Jogorku Kenesh, Ms. Boljurova;
representative from the office of Ombudsman Koshokov; and a
wide representation of local NGOs.


3. (C) The debate on polygamy is not new to Kyrgyzstan, in
the past (mid 1990s) there was an attempt to legalize
polygamy. When the bill reached the floor of the Jogorku
Kenesh, it failed to pass by only a few votes. The issue of
polygamy has again become a topic of discussion in society
because many prominent government officials, members of
Parliament, and possibly including President Bakiyev and
former Prime Minister Kulov are rumored to have more then one
wife. There is a widespread belief that President Bakiyev
himself was one of the initiators of the debate on legalizing
polygamy, though publicly he presents himself as an active
opponent of polygamy. On March 26, 2007, a proposal on
decriminalizing polygamy was defeated in the Jogorku Kenesh.
While polygamy continues to be a formal criminal offense
under the Kyrgyz Criminal Code, discussion of the issue
continues.


4. (SBU) The issue of polygamy has created some strange
bedfellows. Among proponents is the Minister of Justice,
Marat Kayipov, who has been vocal on the issue and has stated
that polygamy is not "dangerous" for society and could very
well serve as a support structure for families of single
mothers with several dependant children. Ombudsmen Tursunbai
Bakir Uulu has said he supports polygamy because it protects
the rights of minorities. A local journalist, Ozbok
Chotonov, openly admitted to having two wives. He claimed
that having several wives presents no conflicts or any other
emotional or economic issues.


5. (SBU) The opponents of polygamy included many of the women
NGO leaders and some government officials. Ms. Kalicha
Omuralieva, a gender equality activist and a member of the
Kyrgyz Jeri party, argued that polygamy not only creates
psychological and emotional problems for the women in such
families, but it also creates a negative perception of the
state, since it encourages obvious gender inequality and
allows men to discriminate against women. She also addressed
some of the arguments offered by polygamy supporters. On the
issue of minorities, she stated that men who marry several
women at the same time are usually the wealthiest men in
society and they certainly do not represent an oppressed
minority. On the issue of supporting poor women without
husbands, she pointed out that men generally do not marry
elderly women with several children, but, in fact, generally
marry young women without any dependants. Another women

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leader, Anara Moldosheva, stated that the practice of
polygamy should be prosecuted and fought against harshly in
order to implement the current law on polygamy. She also
expressed her opinion that the wide-spread discussion of this
topic is an unfortunate sign of the direction Kyrgyzstan is
heading. The President's representative expressed concern
about an attempt to decriminalize polygamy and suggested that
in case criminal liability is removed, civil measures such as
administrative and civil fines should be instituted to punish
polygamy.


6. (C) Comment: Polygamy remains illegal in Kyrgyzstan, but
it is practiced and laws are largely unenforced. Polygamists
in Kyrgyzstan can be divided into two groups: those who are
religious and have taken several wives in accordance with
their Islamic beliefs, and those who want to engage in bigamy
simply because of a perceived enhancement in their social
status. This is still an issue relating to a minority of
Kyrgyz society ) it is estimated that only a small
percentage of men practice polygamy, but judging from the
huge public debate on this issue in March, the practice
could become more prevalent in the future.


7. (C) As Kyrgyzstan continues to form its national identity
15 years after independence from Soviet and Russian rule,
there are competing influences. Even as the country becomes
more modern, there are some who are reading back to
Kyrgyzstan's pre-Soviet past to determine what is
authentically "Kyrgyz." Some of these traditions do not
promote women's equality and rights such as polygamy and
bride-kidnapping, a practice which is markedly increasing in
the countryside.
YOVANOVITCH