In a Guiding judgement of June 12, the Kammarratten in Jonkoping arrived at a decision to regard Women/Wives who are in a Polygamous marriage as a ” Single Mother with a child/children” for the purposes of paying Housing Allowance. This decision, in effect, means that the multiple Wives of Muslim immigrants would be eligible to be paid one thousand kronor more per month than a Husband with the Swedish Society tradition of 1 wife.

By – Elodie Lewis

A representative from the Social Security department bought an appeal against the decision of the Social welfare fund made on 12 June 2017 to grant housing allowance to a married woman who originated in a Middle East Muslim country, with three children, as if she was a single woman. In this case the Woman’s Husband had 2 Wives and he lived alternatively with both Wives.

It should be noted that under Sharia Law a man can have up to 4 wives.

The woman presented herself to the Social welfare Fund as a married woman and declared she should be regarded as a married woman. Despite this the Swedish Social welfare Agency assessed that her Muslim husband was already registered with the one (other) wife – and therefore the second wife will receive the full housing allowance as a single person.

The General Representative is employed by the Social welfare Agency, but shall act independently of the Authority and, in particular, seek guidance in unclear and prejudicial cases. In this case, the Ombud challenged the decision that the Authority should receive guidance from courts in how the regulations should be applied.