KEBAB KING'S 2-FOR-1 DEAL
Man with two wives says polygamy should be legal
A GOLD Coast kebab shop owner who splits his time between two wives says polygamy should be legal because he cannot bear the thought of sleeping with the same woman every night.
“I want it, I need it – otherwise I’m going every night to the same woman,” said Cahit Ozturk, whose flagship store in Cavill Ave is a favourite with late-night clubbers.
Mr Ozturk married his first wife, Leyla, the mother of five of his children, in Turkey in 1992.
He wed his second wife, former Coombabah High School student Kylie Mason, in a religious ceremony in 2007 but the marriage was not registered as polygamy is illegal in Australia.
He said politicians pushing for same-sex marriage should also support polygamy.
A GOLD Coast man who lives with his two wives says polygamy should be legal because he cannot bear the thought of sleeping with the same woman every night.
“I want it, I need it – otherwise I’m going every night to the same woman,” said Surfers Paradise Turkish kebab shop owner Cahit Ozturk.
Mr Ozturk is furious Australian law forbids him from being legally wed to his second wife, stay-at-home mum Kylie Mason, who he “married” in a religious ceremony.
He says politicians pushing for same-sex marriages should also support polygamy.
“When the Australian Government say yes, then 100 per cent I will (marry Kylie properly).
“My book says you can marry four women and I only have two wives.
“It’s not legal here but I have two wives; in my eyes they are both my wife.
“I am happy and my wives are happy and what I do is my business.”
Mr Ozturk legally married his first wife and the mother of his five children, Leyla, who is also his business partner at Jack’s Kebabs, in Turkey in 1992.
Former Coombabah High School student Ms Mason, 32, converted to Islam nine years ago and “married” Mr Ozturk in Australia in 2007. They have three children together.
He spends half the week with his first wife and the other half with the second wife, who claim to have had a rocky start to their relationship but are now both friends and cook for each other.
Ms Mason, who wears engagement and wedding rings, said polygamy made more sense than same-sex marriage.
“If we were able to (be legally married), then of course we would be,” she said.
“If we’re going to do samesex marriage, polygamy actually makes more sense.
“It’s in the Bible and the Koran and same-sex marriage isn’t, so why wouldn’t they legalise something that’s part of religion?”
While the Koran accepts polygamy, president at Arundel Mosque Hussin Goss said the law of the land came first.
“In the Middle East you are allowed four wives as long as they’re treated equally but the Australian law says you’re only allowed one wife.
“The law of the country has to be upheld first.”