Moroccan Polygamy Requests Rise Despite Legal Hurdles, Judicial Report Shows

The Moroccan Family Code, put in place to discourage polygamy, imposes strict conditions for the approval of a second marriage. Despite these measures, the number of requests has continued to grow, reaching more than 4,854 in 2021. Yet the rejection rate of these requests exceeds 61.13% over the same period, reflecting the tightening of judicial procedures.

The complexity of obtaining authorization for a second marriage is explained by the provisions of the Family Code. It prohibits polygamy if the injustice between the two wives is to be feared or if the first wife has expressed her refusal in the marriage certificate. Moroccan courts continue to render their verdict on a case-by-case basis, striving to curb polygamy while respecting the will of citizens.

The granting of authorization for a second marriage also depends on the financial resources of the husband, his ability to provide for the needs of two families and to provide fair housing to the two wives. The reasons commonly cited for such requests include the infertility or health problems of the first wife, the refusal of a wife residing abroad to return to Morocco, an extramarital relationship resulting in a pregnancy, and finally, the financial capacity of the husband to manage a second household.