News Analysis: Polygamy: Kartini, the law and the long road ahead

A. Junaidi ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 04/21/2008 12:54 AM  |  Headlines

Women activists in Indonesia have made polygamy a central issue in their struggle for gender equality, but advocates realize it will take time to abolish the practice, due to legal and cultural hurdles.

Dozens of NGOs have also set up a coalition to amend the Marriage Law, which allows men to have more than one wife, to have certain requirements, such as the permission of the first wife.

"We find many men violating the law by faking requirements. We want polygamy prohibited," said Leli Nurrohmah, Muslim feminist of Rahima center for education and information on women's rights and member of the coalition.

Leli, the author of Meretas Jihad Kesetaraan (Building Jihad on Equality), said women groups have proposed an amendment of the law to the House of Representatives.

"But it will take a long time as it's not legislators; priority," said the mother of one.

Feminist issues may be on the mind today as Indonesia celebrates Kartini Day.

Kartini, who was born in Jepara, Central Java, on April 21, 1879, and died in Rembang on Sept. 17, 1904, is acknowledged as a national heroine because of her struggle for the emancipation of women.

Her well-written letters to her friends in the Netherlands, which were published in a book Door Duisternis tot Licht (From Darkness to Light) have inspired women and independence movements in Dutch colonies.

Unfortunately, Kartini died young, at the age of 25, after giving birth to her first son from her marriage with the then Rembang regent. The strong patriarchal culture at the time made Kartini agree to her father's arrangement to be the regent's fourth wife.

"Kartini was a smart women. Despite her husband's polygamy, she benefited from her structural position as a regent's wife and used it for women's progress," said Leli, who runs gender programs in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools).

Tamalia Alisjahbana, chairperson of the Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana foundation, views Kartini as a woman with vision.

"Kartini wanted to live in the bright European civilization without leaving her local culture," said Tamalia, the daughter of Indonesia's noted scholar, the late Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana.

"I think Kartini hated polygamy. My father also hated polygamy," she said in a discussion held by the Warna-Warni foundation.

Polygamy has been long debated among Islamic scholars with both opponents and proponents of multiple marriage frequently using religious teachings to defend their arguments.

Conservatives exploit Koran verses that allow men to have a maximum of four wives and the polygamous life of the prophet Muhammad, while progressives interpret the teachings differently.

Many enlightened pundits view the verse as actually banning polygamy, as it carries the tough, almost inapplicable, requirement that men should treat their wives equally.

They also reveal Muhammad, who was very happy in his 28-year monogamous life with Khadijah, once rejected his son-in-law's request to be polygamous.

Although viewed negatively, polygamy has many supporters in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population in the world. Hamzah Haz had three wives -- he was accompanied by his first wife in official events when he was the country's vice president in 2001.

The country's first president Soekarno had three wives: Fatmawati (the mother of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri), Hartini and Ratnasari Dewi.

Popular preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar became a household name after announcing his second marriage. The cleric, who was known for his relaxed sermons, faced much criticism from his fans, mostly housewives.

Last year, the Constitutional Court rejected a petition from a Jakarta businessman who asked the court to delete the requirements for practicing polygamy. Muhammad Isa claimed the requirements violated his religious rights.

The recent box office hit Ayat-Ayat Cinta (Verses of Love) also supported polygamous marriages. Some jokingly said Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's tears while watching the film were not caused by the plot, but by the fact that he did not have two wives like the protagonist.

But in current pop culture, works celebrating women's freedom, such as current hit songs Lelaki Cadangan (reserved men) by teenage duo, Tika and Tiwi and Wonder Women by Mulan Jameela, are as numerous as those underestimating women.

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