Define western muslims. Western muslims that live in the United States obviously cannot have more than one wife because its against the law. So how western are we talking about here? I think that multiple wives is banned in Britain and France as well, so I don't know that this is even an issue in the Western world.
I'm not 100% on this, but think that I am correct in saying that Muslim marriage in its' own service, has completely different wording to the statutory marriage wording that stands up to British law.Therefore, although in Britain, you cannot be married until you reach the age of 16, and only then with both parent's permission, when you reach 18, the choice is entirely up to you who you marry.
As far as I am aware, Muslim belief/law, is completely different, and I remember there being uproar over here, when a girl of 13 became a Muslim wife.
This is the same as far as I am aware regarding Muslims having more than one wife over here. I remember a case where again in the media, a Muslim was married, and his wife went into a coma, and he remarried before his first wife died.
this leads me to believe that certain parts of a Muslims religion, doesn't necessarily have to be the same as the nations laws.
I don't know how this would stand up in British courts, because I have never heard of Muslims getting divorced, so I am presuming that this is how it is being overlooked.
Western Muslims most likely means those who are Muslim living in the Western hemisphere (North, Central and South America).
The answer to this can be yes and no. As an example in my country legally one can only have ONE wife, but by Islam they can have more. The other 'wives' are married based on Islamic law and call themselves as 'wife'. but of course the law of the land does not recognize it.