Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has ordered that men in the Caucasus state must turn in their wives to the authorities if they're found using WhatsApp.
The comments come as the controversial political figure presided over the wedding of a 47-year old police chief to a 17-year old woman. News of the event spread through out the country and Eastern Europe via WhatsApp, which Kadyrov now wants banned from the country.
"Lock them in, do not let them go out, then they will not post anything," Kadyrov declared on national television.
The police chief in question, Nazhud Guchigov, reportedly kept his teenage bride indoors and refused to allow her to leave the house in the lead-up to the wedding.
As well as this, the police chief has petitioned for a law allowing polygamous marriage in Chechnya. "It all has to be in keeping with Sharia," explained one of the chief's aides. "If a man can support more than one wife, then why not?"
Right so.
Chechnya has a large Muslim population, however these most recent events have sparked outrage amongst locals there.
Kadyrov's response? Stop talking about it on Whatsapp. "Men, take your women out of Whatsapp," he demanded.
It's the emojis, man. They're too addictive. You can say so much with them.
Whatever about stopping people from using an app, but marrying a 17-year old girl when you're literally old enough to be her father / grandfather and you reportedly imprisoned her beforehand? Pretty disgusting, in fairness.
