Polygamy and child marriage are both officially against the law in Germany, but that’s not stopping Achmad, a Syrian refugee, from living in Germany with two of his three wives and six children. His second wife was only 13-years-old when he married her.

In 2016, the Independent UK reported that Germany’s justice minister, Heiko Maas, claimed Germany was ending their unofficial tolerance of polygamy including marriages to a minor.

“No one who comes to us has the right to put their cultural roots, or their religious beliefs, above our laws,” Mr. Maas told Bild newspaper.

“For that reason, multiple marriages cannot be recognized in Germany.”

Mass also admitted that while polygamy a crime in Germany, he alleges German authorities “often look the other way” if a migrant brings several wives to the country.

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According to Achmad, a Syrian refugee, polygamy is alive and well in his government-funded home in Germany. Listen to his incredible story, as he tells about the benefits he and his large family receive. While relaying his personal account of what life is like for a Muslim refugee in Germany, he explains how he has multiple wives, one of them who is currently living with him, became his bride at the age of 13 years. Achmad, an unskilled worker is separated from his third wife. Ahmad explains there is no jealousy between his wives because he does not permit it.  Achmad is a perfect example of how refugees are rewarded with housing, spending money, education, health care and even phone cards for calling home, all at the expense of German taxpayers. The only thing they need to do is make it across the border into Angela Merkle’s new Germany.

Although “Achmed” doesn’t say how much money is deposited in his bank account every month from the German government,  Info Migrants provides an up-to-date status of the many welfare benefits that are given to refugees living in Germany.

Many refugees at least initially struggle to find work in Germany and have to depend on welfare.

The so-called unemployment money II (AG-II) is meant to cover the basic living expenses and needs of people who have not recently paid into unemployment funds. How much AG II people get depends on a person’s family status and living situation and how high average living expenses are where they live.

Currently, a single adult receives € 408/month on average for everything but rent and health insurance, which the state pays for. AG-II recipients can also apply for extra funds e.g. for the basic furnishing of their apartment or if their child is going on a class trip.  The state usually pays enough rent for someone on AG II to live in a reasonably sized apartment, but not enough to live in any sought-after neighborhood, leaving most refugees to find apartments in less popular outer boroughs. To give two examples: In Bonn, a city in central western Germany with comparatively high living costs, a person living alone receives up to 487 €/month plus heating expenses. In Berlin, it’s 365 €/month for singles, 437 €/month for two people living together, plus utilities.

This leaves many refugees with a net income of less than 60 percent of the average German income (917 € and 1530€ for a single person), and thus below the poverty line.

What the state pays asylum seekers

According to Germany’s Asylum-Seekers’ Benefits Act, the state has to provide accommodation, food, toiletries, clothes, necessary household items and  “benefits to cover personal needs in everyday life,” like a telephone card to communicate with family left back home, to asylum seekers.

German and integration classes for asylum seekers and refugees are also paid for by the state.

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