MP Abzal Kuspan Clarifies His Remarks on Legalizing Polygamy

Majilis deputy Abzal Kuspan has clarified that he did not propose encouraging polygamy, but merely called for the issue to be regulated by law, Orda.kz reports.

In a Facebook post, Kuspan explained that his earlier comments were misunderstood.

I am not justifying or promoting polygamy or extramarital relationships. On the contrary, I have a negative attitude toward them. But we cannot deny the fact of children being born and the state’s responsibility toward them. This is not about supporting polygamy but about protecting the rights of the child — regardless of the circumstances of their birth.

A mother may be socially vulnerable, legally illiterate, or may simply not be present. In such cases, the state must protect the child on its own initiative,
 he said.

Therefore, one way or another, we must resolve the issue of ‘tokals’ and their children—not in the realm of morality, but in the realm of law and social protection. This is what I meant when I spoke in the interview about the need for legal regulation of this social phenomenon, not about encouraging it.

The topic of so-called ‘toqals’ ( Kazakh langauge term referring to a second wife” or “junior wife in a polygamous relationship - Ed.) has nothing to do with me personally. I have one wife, who carries the role of a spouse with dignity and, as a daughter-in-law, received the blessing of my late parents. I intend to live the rest of my life with her.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina

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