Some senior leaders of the Islamic community are calling on the Australian government to recognize polygamous marriage

Several Muslim clerics say that polygamous marriages, although illegal, exist in Australia and that they often are asked to perform wedding ceremonies even though the groom already is married. Community leaders say that a small number of Muslim men, mainly from Egypt, Jordan or Sudan, had immigrated with two or more wives, although their multiple marriages are not recognized under Australian law. The clerics now ask whether the laws should be changed to allow polygamist unions on religious or cultural grounds. The Koran allows men to have up to four wives if all can be supported equally. Those pushing for new laws have pointed out that polygamy unofficially exists in traditional Aboriginal communities in Australia's Northern Territory - and that these relationships are recognized when the government grants welfare benefits. Similar arrangements exist in the United Kingdom. Recently the British government said it would grant welfare benefits to all spouses in a polygamous marriage, if the marriages had taken place in countries where the polygamy is legal.