Kazakhstani bloggers speak out about second wives. What could they face for it?
Why polygamy is back in the spotlight
On July 23, Almaty police identified and held an influencer administratively liable for posting videos promoting polygamy.
In his videos, the creator described such a lifestyle as acceptable, stating: ""We (referring to himself and his three "wives" – Ed. note) absolutely do not care what other people think of us."
Police stated that such content violates Kazakhstani law and undermines respect for the institution of the family. A protocol was filed against the man under Part 3-1 of Article 456-2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for posting and distributing unlawful content.
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Post by Almaty Police Department (@almaty.police)
The influencer faces a fine of 20 MCI (86,500 tenge in 2024). Following a discussion with police, he deleted the videos from his page.
How it started: The Aitugan Galymov scandal
Since early July, Kazakhstan's social media segments have been abuzz with controversy surrounding blogger Aitugan Galymov. The man publicly admitted to starting a second family, claiming that Islam permits such relationships.
The controversy was sparked by videos showing him with another blogger, Asem, during traditional Kazakh wedding ceremonies like "syrga salu" and "kyz uzatu." Users speculated that the influencer had taken a second wife, despite being married to Ilnura Galymova since 2022, with whom he has three children.
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Post by Aitugan AKULA???? (@aitugangalymov)
Note:Aitugan's Instagram page has over 250,000 followers, where he shares content about selling goods from China. Asem also runs a blog on the same business niche, with an audience of nearly 760,000 users.
The blogger's first wife has not yet commented on the situation. Asem has also refrained from making official statements, continuing to post content about her life with the influencer. Meanwhile, social media users are discussing her possible pregnancy, though this information remains unconfirmed.
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Post by Aitugan AKULA???? (@aitugangalymov)
Following the wave of discussions, Aitugan Galymov posted an Instagram story stating:
"Yes, I have two families. I have a debt of 15 million tenge. Praise be to Allah! No matter what anyone says, I am sincere before Allah. You can't please people, no matter who you are," he wrote.
Screenshot from Instagram
Later, the man recorded a video message. In it, he claimed that Islam allows such relationships but emphasized that he was not calling on anyone to follow his example.
"We will complain and forget, but in the future, this will become the norm"
The story quickly expanded beyond the influencer's private life. In the comments, Kazakhstanis are debating polygamy, with many fearing that such relationships could eventually become normalized.
"Kazakhstan is a secular state where polygamy is not officially permitted, but there is effectively no real mechanism for holding someone accountable for a religious 'second marriage.' It scares me that right now we will all be outraged and then forget, normalizing it until it becomes the standard in the future, and we eventually turn into Afghanistan," wrote one user on the Threads social network.
Some users condemned both the men who take second wives and the women who agree to such arrangements.
A segment of users also argued that such practices do not align with Islamic norms.
"In Islam, polygamy is highly discouraged! Because the Quran describes insurmountable conditions for taking a second or subsequent wife! ... According to Sharia, second wives are taken when life in a country is difficult; they take in single mothers and widows who struggle to feed their children! Young girls are not taken as second wives,"
"What amazes me most are the women who agree to this, to be a second, third, or fourth wife", users wrote.
A second official marriage cannot be registered
Attorney Abzal Kasymzhanov explained to Tengrinews.kz that Kazakhstani law recognizes a union only between one man and one woman.
"Kazakhstani law establishes the principle of monogamy. State registration of a marriage is impossible if one of the prospective spouses is already in another registered marriage. Therefore, it is impossible to enter into a second marriage before the first is terminated—the registry office will simply refuse to register it," the lawyer says.
Thus, the law completely excludes polygamy in the form of multiple simultaneously registered marriages.
Note: It is worth noting that since July 1, 2026, a new Constitution has been in effect in Kazakhstan, which for the first time enshrined at the constitutional level the definition of marriage as a voluntary union between a man and a woman.
"Neke is not recognized as marriage"
According to the lawyer, performing a Neke ceremony in a mosque without official registration with the Civil Registry (RAGS) does not grant cohabiting partners the legal status of spouses.
The state does not recognize such unions.
"A religious rite (Neke) performed without registration at an authorized RAGS body does not create spousal status, does not give rise to family rights and obligations provided by law, and is not recognized by the state as a marriage," the lawyer notes.
Note: Neke qiyu, or Nikah, is a Muslim religious wedding ceremony which, in itself, is not recognized as an official marriage under the laws of Kazakhstan.
Can one be punished for polygamy?
Kazakhstanis often wonder why law enforcement agencies do not hold men accountable for polygamy. The lawyer explains that there is simply no corresponding article in the law.
"Currently, the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan does not provide for independent administrative or criminal liability for performing a religious ceremony for a second marriage when an initial registered marriage exists. Previously, criminal law included liability for bigamy and polygamy, but this was abolished back in the late 1990s," says Abzal Kasymzhanov.
He adds that authorities can only punish participants in such relationships if they commit related crimes, such as domestic violence, fraud, or evasion of alimony payments.
The risks for "second wives"
Kasymzhanov notes that the main problem with such relationships is the lack of legal protection for women.
"The main problem is not so much the lack of punishment, but rather the lack of legal protection for the woman, who is effectively in a family relationship but is not legally a spouse. In the event the relationship ends, it is such women who most often find themselves deprived of the protection mechanisms provided by family law," the lawyer concluded.
A woman who is only in a religious marriage generally does not receive the rights of an official spouse.
According to the lawyer, these rights include:
jointly acquired property;
spousal maintenance;
inheritance;
a range of social guarantees.
"For a secular state, state registration of marriage is of fundamental importance, as it ensures certainty regarding the legal status of spouses. Marriage registration ensures the stability of civil transactions and the protection of the rights of all participants in family relations, primarily women and children," Abzal Kasymzhanov added.
The lawyer also noted that children's rights are protected regardless of whether the parents' marriage is registered.
The SAMK position: how imams can be punished
Meanwhile, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan (SAMK), in response to an inquiry from the editorial office, reported that imams perform the Neke qiyu rite only upon presentation of a marriage certificate.
"In the absence of a marriage certificate, the clergyman must request a document confirming that the future spouses have applied to the RAGS office for marriage registration," the SAMK stated.
The administration emphasized that imams do not have the right to perform the ceremony for individuals who fail to present these documents.
"If an imam performs the Neke qiyu rite in violation of the requirements established by the SAMK, the administration will initiate an investigation. If the violation is confirmed, disciplinary measures provided for by labor legislation may be taken," the religious association clarified.
At the same time, the SAMK added that they do not have information regarding Aitugan Galymov's social media posts.
In November 2025, Mazhilis deputy Abzal Kuspan, in an interview with a journalist, expressed the opinion that it is necessary to legally regulate the "institution of tokal" and protect the rights of women who become second spouses, as well as their children. His comments sparked a public outcry, after which he clarified his controversial statement.