In UTA, polygamy decriminalize: instead of five years, prison can be in a fine of $ 750. Some Mormons are still unhappy

The Senate of the American state Utah agreed to make polygamy not a crime, but an offense. Unanimously approved by the senators, the bill proposes to punish polygamy with a fine of $ 750 and public work, writes Reuters. According to the current state law, you can go to prison for a period of up to five years.

The co -author of the bill Senator Deidre Henderson emphasized that we are not talking about complete legalization. “Fraudulent polygamy”, when someone is trying to marry several people without their knowledge, and marriage with minors remain crimes. A few years ago, the general prosecutor Utah publicly abandoned the prosecution for polygamy, but by law this remained a crime.

About 30 thousand people live in Utah in polygamous communities, writes USA Today. As a rule, these are Mormons, in accordance with the teachings of which polygamy "gives ascension to heaven." Mormons settled in Utah in 1847. In 1890, they abandoned polygamy, thanks to which Utah received state status with the elected governor and representative office in Congress (previously she was a “territory”, which did not have these rights). Since that time, the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of the Saints of the last days has been excommunicated followers who are in multiple marriage. The leaders of the organization whose headquarters are located in the capital of Salt Lake City are trying to distance themselves from the idea of ​​polygamy.

However, at the beginning of the 20th century, the excommunicated founded the fundamentalist church. Due to disagreement with the rejection of polygamy, the current under the name "United Apostolic Brothers." In addition, the communities of supporters of polygamy, who did not profess the Mormon faith, settled around the state.

Senator Henderson, in a conversation with Reuters, noted that the practice of punishments for polygamy has never stopped, "generating an atmosphere of fear." Her opponents are sure that the current law does not need to be changed, since polygamy is dangerous for women and children, as well as for girls who are forced to marry a person much older than them.

“Supporters of this bill are trying to act by analogy with the movement for gay rights, saying that this initiative is about the right of adults to do what they want, by agreement. But in fact, we are talking about the militant religion and raising children with violation of all human rights, ”the Sound Choices Coalition Polygamy Organization said .

Supporters of polygamy expressed dissatisfaction with the law - in their opinion, decriminalization is not enough. One of the modern polygamous communities opposed the bill on the decriminalization of polygamy, FOX13 reports . According to the community, those who are in multiple marriage will still feel like second -grade people. The Salt Lake City community believes that polygamy should be legal.

The bill approved by the Senate of Utah should now be adopted by the House of State Representatives, then it will become a law. As Reuters notes, when examined in the ward, more fierce disputes are expected than in the Senate.

Tatyana Pashkova