Myanmar leader proposes interfaith marriage law

YANGON, Feb 28, (AFP): Myanmar's president has asked parliament to consider an intermarriage law, spearheaded by an extremist monk, that is aimed at "protecting" Buddhists in the former junta-ruled nation.

The move follows several waves of anti-Muslim violence that have coincided with a groundswell of Buddhist nationalism.

While the proposals from Thein Sein, in a letter seen by AFP on Friday, are vaguely worded, they appear to call for some kind of restrictions on inter-faith marriages.

The proposals include a law "to give protection and rights for ethnic Buddhists when marrying with other religions", as well as a ban on polygamy and legislation to "balance the increasing population".

Thein Sein, who has won international plaudits for his political reforms, submitted the proposals to lawmakers after receiving a petition led by Buddhist clerics last year.

A radical monk called Wirathu has campaigned for a law to force non-Buddhist men wishing to marry a Buddhist woman to convert and gain permission to wed from her parents, or risk 10 years in jail.