Canada's polygamy laws upheld by B.C. Supreme Court
By Contributor
Canada’s polygamy laws were upheld in B.C. Supreme Court Wednesday, the CBC reported.
The court said minors who end up in polygamous marriages should be exempt from prosecution.
In a 335-page decision Wednesday, Chief Justice Robert Bauman ruled in favour of the section of the Criminal Code outlawing polygamous unions.
In his ruling, Bauman said while the law does infringe on religious freedom, it is justified given the harm polygamy causes to children, women and society.
He suggested the law shouldn’t be used to criminalize minors who find themselves married into polygamous unions.
The decision follows 42 days of legal arguments from a wide variety of groups interested in the constitutionality of Section 293 of the Criminal Code.
- The article continues: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/23/bc-polygamy-ruling-supreme-court.html?cmp=rss
