Polygamy splits a family reunion as European court sides with the Netherlands

The European Court of Human Rights unanimously ruled the Netherlands acted within its rights in refusing entry to five children from a Yemeni asylum seeker's second and third marriages, while approving his first wife and their eight children. The father, identified as A.A., had not sought to bring the other two mothers, arguing only that separation from the children violated his right to family life.

The court found the children, living with their mothers in Turkey with residence cards and school access, showed no evidence of harm and could maintain contact with their father through visits. Dutch officials had offered A.A. an alternative: divorce the second and third wives to qualify under more favorable reunification rules, which he declined.

Legal scholars flagged unresolved concerns, including unequal treatment among the children and the near-total absence of the mothers' perspectives from the court's reasoning. The Dutch ruling stands, though either side has three months to seek review by the Grand Chamber.

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