Kazakh lawmaker Abzal Kuspan has proposed legally regulating the institution of the «tokal» — a junior or secondary wife in a polygamous marriage — arguing that the law should protect the rights of women who become second wives and their children.
Kuspan discussed the idea in an interview with journalist Yerbol Seyilkhan.
He explained that despite his personal opposition to the practice, polygamous marriages persist among wealthy men. He argued that since the practice continues even if the law prohibits it, legalizing it would better protect women who become junior wives.
The MP emphasized that the issue is not the existence of second wives, but rather that tokal and their children currently have no legal protection. According to Kuspan, these women often face serious difficulties obtaining alimony or child support because their relationships are not recognized by law. Legalizing polygamy, he argued, would help address those problems.
Kuspan later told the Uralskaya Nedelya newspaper that he does not plan to raise the issue in Parliament and that it is not being discussed there.
Public reaction
Political analyst Gaziz Abishev condemned Kuspan’s remarks, calling them «an insult to Kazakh women» and an attempt to normalize inequality.
«If the law allows her to be one of several, then it becomes normal to be one of several,» Abishev said. «In Kazakhstan, laws are often passed under a plausible pretext and then deliberately misinterpreted to promote radical views.»
He added that Kazakh women should reject the idea altogether, warning that such legalization could lead to «a society less favorable to women» for future generations.
Previous proposals to legalize polygamy
Notably, calls to legalize polygamy in Kazakhstan have surfaced repeatedly over the past two decades.
In 2001, MP Amangeldy Aitaly proposed amendments to legalize polygamy and revisited the issue in 2007–2008.
In 2011, presidential candidate Amantai Assylbek, also known as Amantai Kazhy, included legalization of tokal marriages in his campaign platform.
MP Zhumatai Aliyev said in December 2013 that he supported allowing polygamy under «special conditions.»
On Jan. 10, 2014, former Deputy Agriculture Minister Marat Tolibayev also publicly supported legalization, even suggesting a «mirror» law allowing polyandry — the practice of women having multiple husbands.
In 2019, sociologist Timur Aisautov argued that tokal relationships should be formally recognized by law, and in 2023, scholar Omar Zhalel reignited the debate.
