The Taliban, who refer to themselves as Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, has asked its leaders and commanders to not have more than one wife.
The reason is that big and extravagant weddings are leading to increasing demand for funds to pay ‘bride price’, which is the money given to a woman’s family to secure her hand in marriage, The Daily Mail reported.
‘Bride prices’ range from £20,000 to £70,000.
Afghan chief Haibatullah Akhundzada issued the order following rumours that the top brass of Taliban was living lavishly and spending fortunes on their new wives in Qatar and Pakistan.
“We instruct officials of the Islamic Emirate, in accordance with Islamic Sharia, to avoid second, third, and fourth marriage if there is no need,” Akhundzada decreed.
The wives are housed separately, so polygamy of the Taliban’s top officers are exorbitant affairs.
The current chief has two wives, while the representative in Doha has a harem of three.
“If all leadership and commanders avoid polygamy, they won’t indulge in corrupt practices,” Akhundzada added.