Iran deputies back down on polygamy bill

 2008-09-08 22:52:04 -

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's state TV says a parliamentary committee has removed articles that would have allowed Iranian men to take additional wives without the consent of their first wife.
Ali Shahrokhi, head of the parliament's judicial committee, says the committee restored a clause Monday that taking additional wives would be conditional on the consent of the first wife.
The new bill will likely be put to vote in the parliament next week.

Outcry over the original bill had forced parliament last week to postpone a vote pending further debate.
The bill had angered the country's top justice officials, who said it would undermine women's rights and a government attempt to enshrine its strict Islamic interpretation into law.