Morocco Sees Rise in Unofficial Marriages as Polygamy Requests Face Rejection

During a conference in Meknes, he stated that polygamy has become difficult to access due to very strict conditions, requiring exceptionally valid reasons and sufficient financial capacity for such a commitment.

Relying on a report from the Supreme Council of the Judiciary published in January, Ramid revealed that the number of polygamy requests was increasing, with 3,117 requests in 2017, 3,590 in 2019 and nearly 20,000 over the past five years. However, according to the report, the courts only approved 39% of these requests, rejecting 60%. Faced with these statistics, Ramid expressed his concern, wondering what the rejected applicants had decided to do afterwards.

To read: Morocco to Tighten Polygamy Laws, Curb Fraudulent Practices

Addressing the implications of these rejections, the PJD member stated that the couples concerned could already have performed traditional ceremonies, exchanged gifts and committed themselves in various other ways. In the event of a refusal of their request by the judges, he raised the question of what they do next, suggesting the possibility that they continue their relationships in an unofficial framework, without legal protection for the women or men involved.

The former minister suggested the need to seriously reflect on this issue, warning against imitating Western policies that prohibit polygamy but allow other forms of multiple relationships, including those between people of the same sex. He stressed the need for the state to follow up on those whose requests have been rejected, noting that their decision to marry "in the shadows" creates a societal problem. For Ramid, polygamy represents only 0.66% of all marriages, accusing "secularists and modernists" of raising unfounded problems.