I think that this problem exists not only in Tajikistan, but also in other Central Asian countries. For example in Kyrgyzstan, where I’m coming from, the southern part has a significant difference in comparison to the northern part. The southern part is less developed in social and economic terms. People are poorly educated and don’t know their rights. Women do not have an outright understanding that getting into polygamous marriages is not only wrong in moral terms but also illegal. After divorce they usually become the victims of their own mistakes, inasmuch, according to local law they don’t have a right for their part of property. I think that it is the matter of education among the women.

Recently the local TV channel was broadcasting a talk-show on the problem of polygamy, where politicians, journalists, aksakals (elders) discussed this problem. There were also participating women who were in polygamous marriages. According to them, in most of the cases women are made to get into polygamous marriages by the pressure of the society (community). Traditionally people think that if a girl does not get married until 22, she is considered as a “qary qiz” which means “old maid”. Her parents and relatives make her by force get married to her “darling”. Girls do not have a choice at that situation because according to local tradition the word of parents is a strict law.

This is an interesting piece! You know, I think the NYT article was a little biased. Most of my friends living in the capital are against polygamy. People in remoter regions have a slightly different attitude to the phenomenon. When arranging marriages, most parents try to make sure that their daughters become first and only wives. However, when their daughters reach certain age and cannot marry - due mostly to the fact that abour 1/6 of Tajik men work abroad - the parents do everything to arrange any marriage for the daughters. In particular, they let their daughters marry wealthier men having several wives.

While such marriages protect the girls from public disapproval (being unmarried has traditionally been a great shame for Tajik females), they later result in numerous legal problems. In particulr, Tajik law forbids legal registration of poligamic marriages. Therefore, girls becoming second or third wives have no documents to prove their marriage. In case of divorce or the death of husband, they will not even be considered for alimony payment or a portion of the property.

There are other problems too. I think your post is one of the most detailed pieces I have read on the issue so far.