In northern Germany, in Schleswig-Holstein, a Syrian who arrived in 2015 with four children and his wife is now allowed to catch up with his second wife.
Later he was allowed to bring more children he has with his second wife in Syria to Germany. Then her mother was allowed to follow. The problem: Polygamy are allowed in Syria, but prohibited in Germany.
According to the report, the district administration in Elmshorn confirmed the process. Oliver Carstens, district spokesman, said there was another similar case. In addition, he assumes “a similar number of unknown cases”. The authorization in the specific case is not a blanket rule. The succession of a second wife must be carefully examined in each individual case. A request from WELT remained unanswered so far.
Carstens rejects the accusation that Bigamic marriages are being promoted in the Pinneberg district. An appropriate question had been raised at an internal meeting of the district administration with the heads of the municipal social welfare offices of the district council member Burghard Schalhorn of the Kreiswählergemeinschaft, it is said. Carstens argues that the legality of a marriage is governed solely by the law of the country in which it was concluded. And in Syria, men can have up to four women.
— Syrian Refugee In Germany With 4 Wives, 22 Kids Sparks Social Media Fuss Over Welfare
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