There was a video widely circulated in social media, where an Indonesian woman, a first wife agreed the husband to marry a his second wife in teary eyes.
According to China Press, the video that garnered 1 million views was uploaded by an Instagram user @smart.gram on Aug 22.
In the footage, the first wife was sitting in between the second wife and her husband. She was asking her husband in a voice that full of sadness,” Can you promise you will be fair in future?”
Immediately the husband answered, “Insyaallah”
Sobbing in tears, she said, “Promise that you will protect me and the kids?”. The husband promised that he will protect them.
Following that, She said ” Bismillah. I here would like to agreed ***(name of second wife )*** to be the second wife of my husband.” After the statement, the first wife break down in tears.
The second wife that sitting next to her was giving a hug to comfort her.
Why does a first wife agree to it?
A few years ago, Dr Wan Zumusni Wan Mustapha, or Zunie for short, worked on a research project with feminist organisation Sisters in Islam, which surveyed and interviewed more than 1,000 people in polygamous families: husbands, first wives, second wives and children.
The researchers found most of the first wife are coerced or pushed into accepting their husband’s decision.
“Some voice their dissatisfaction but some, in order to save the marriage or for the sake of the children, will just go on with it,” Zunie says.
Info via abc.net