Sharia to be basis of Libyan law; men to be permitted 4 wives

October 24, 2011

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, the leader of Libya’s transitional government, has announced that sharia will be the “basic source” of law in post-Qadaffi Libya.

“We are an Islamic country,” Abdul-Jalil said. “We take the Islamic religion as the core of our new government. The constitution will be based on our Islamic religion.”

Wire services reported that Abdul-Jalil announced that the new government would lift “restrictions on the number of wives Libyan men can take.” The Qur’an permits men to have four wives.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Libyan law currently permits a man to take up to four wives, but only with the consent of the first wife and only with proof that he can support more than one wife.

 

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Further information:

• Sharia law will be basis for governing Libya, new leader says (Kansas City Stars)
• Transitional Leader Calls for Sharia Law as Country Celebrates Liberation (FoxNews)
• Libya (Social Institutions & Gender Index)
• Vatican hopes for peace in Libya after Qaddafi's death (CWN, 10/21)