France gripped by row over Muslim’s multiple marriages

A MUSLIM husband at the centre of a row in France over multiple marriages defended himself yesterday by claiming that keeping mistresses was the French way of life.

Algerian-born Lies Hebbadj came into the public spotlight after his wife was fined for driving with a veil covering her face.

Her case drew nationwide attention last week amid moves by President Nicolas Sarkozy to bring in a legal ban on Islamic veils. It soon emerged that her husband may have four wives.

The French government has said it has information that Hebbadj is married to four women with 12 children and accuses them of fraudulently claiming single parent benefits.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said he wanted to revoke Hebbadj’s French citizenship if he is found guilty of polygamy.

The man is also suspected of profiting from state subsidies for single women provided to each of the wives.

But Hebbadj said yesterday: “If we are stripped of nationality, for having mistresses there would be a lot of French people stripped of nationality. As far as I know, mistresses are not forbidden, neither in France, nor in Islam.”

He did not specify whether he lives under the same roof with the various women in his life.

Neighbours say he moves between several houses.

Hebbadj, whose robed image has been flashed around France by TV, runs a new halal butcher shop.

Authorities are looking into whether he was married to four women in French civil ceremonies, which would be highly unlikely.

If he was married in religious ceremonies by imams in Algeria or in France, the unions would not count as marriages under French law.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Francois Fillon yesterday met Muslim leaders and the justice minister to lay the groundwork for an eventual law banning Islamic veils.

Belgium also plans a full ban and was expected to be the first EU country to institute one, until the collapse last week of the Belgian government.

That legislation is on hold.