Amsterdam – Yemeni political refugee Khaled Saleh Mohammed Al-Anesi, who resides in the Netherlands, has filed a case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Dutch government, following the authorities’ rejection of his request to reunite his children from two other wives, citing Dutch laws that prohibit polygamy within the country.

According to official court documents, the case is registered under the number 7481/23, filed on February 9, 2023. The court announced on January 14, 2025, that the case had been accepted for consideration, though no final ruling has yet been issued.

In his claim, Al-Anesi argues that the Dutch government’s refusal constitutes a violation of his right to family life, guaranteed under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and that the decision represents a form of cultural and religious discrimination against Muslims whose faith permits polygamy.

Dutch authorities, however, have maintained their stance, asserting that allowing family reunification in cases involving multiple marriages would contradict the fundamental values of Dutch society, which are based on gender equality and women’s rights.

Al-Anesi, a Yemeni lawyer and political activist, was a leading member of the Islah Party, the Yemeni branch affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. He left Yemen several years ago and obtained political asylum in the Netherlands, where he continues his media and human rights activities.

The case has sparked wide debate across European legal and media circles, with some viewing it as a test of religious freedom and cultural diversity, while others see it as an attempt to introduce social practices incompatible with European law and modern values.

As of the time of this report, the European Court of Human Rights has not issued its final judgment. The forthcoming decision is expected to clarify the court’s position on polygamy-related family reunification cases within the broader context of religious and cultural differences in Europe.