Iran women activists see victory on polygamy bill

By Fredrik Dahl

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's parliament has indefinitely delayed a vote on a bill on families, a move women's rights activists said on Tuesday was a victory in their drive to block legislation they fear would encourage polygamy.

The conservative-controlled assembly had been due to vote on the government proposal known as the "Family Support Bill" last Sunday but it was sent back to its legal committee for more work, an Iranian newspaper reported this week.

Sussan Tahmasebi said she and other activists had lobbied against the measure, which they said would allow a man in the Islamic Republic to take a second wife without the agreement of his first wife. The bill also covered other family issues.

But she cautioned that the bill, put forward last year by the government of conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had not been withdrawn and may be sent back to the legislature.

"It is a huge victory ... but the threat still looms and it still exists," Tahmasebi told Reuters.

There was no immediate comment from the government, which rejects allegations Iran is discriminating against women.

Under Iran's Islamic law, men can have up to four wives, but polygamy is not widely practiced and is seen by many Iranians as unacceptable.

Women's rights activists seek an end to polygamy and last month said in a statement the bill would reinforce women's lack of legal rights in Iran.