Polygamy is illegal in Australia with a penalty of five years imprisonment

About 180 male users and 12 female users in Australia are listed on the site

The founder of a match-making website for Muslim men seeking multiple wives says the practice is growing in popularity in Australia, despite polygamy being illegal.

British founder of Secondwife.com, Azad Chaiwala, says the 'social taboo' of polygamy is fading away and that as many as 750 Australians use his website to find more spouses.

There are about 180 male users and 12 female users in Australia listed on the site seeking second marriages, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Founder of a match-making website for Muslim men, Azad Chaiwala, says the practice is growing in popularity in Australia, despite polygamy being illegal

A line from the Koran is featured on the front page of the site Secondwife.com

A line from the Koran is featured on the front page of the site.

'Then marry women of your choice, two or three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly, then only one', it reads.

'A lot of Muslims give their cultural background precedence instead of looking at what religion says,' Mr Chaiwala told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'There is a lot of stigma now against Muslims so they're being stupidly cautious.'

Mr Chaiwala has also set up another site, Polygamy.com, for non-Muslims.

Executive director of Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights says the practise is demeaning and often women and children are treated badly in polygamous arrangements.

'There tends to be a lot of suffering and loneliness,' Joumanah El Matrah told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'The limited evidence we have is that there is an increased risk of domestic violence.'

She referred to line of the Koran featured on the site as outdated, as women no longer needed husbands to support them.

Azad Chaiwala, says the 'social taboo' of polygamy is fading away and claims as many as 750 Australians use his website

President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Keysar Trad (pictured), says polygamy offers women rights, rather than having to label them as a mistress

Executive director of Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights, Joumanah El Matrah, says the practise is demeaning and often women and children are treated badly

President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Keysar Trad, says polygamy offers women rights, rather than having to label them as a mistress. His views are supported by his wife of 30 years.

'My wife is a saint, she's one of the best women out there but I think it's human nature, God put this drive very strongly inside males so that we can be providers and supporters for more than one woman,' Mr Trad told the Sydney Morning Herald.