Former student prioritises polygamy over PhD

A Channel 4 documentary has exposed a rise in polygamous marriages, including one involving a former Cambridge PhD student.


Nabilah Philips, 35, is one of three women married to Hasan Philips, 32, and abandoned her engineering PhD at Cambridge upon marriage.

Having already been through a divorce, Mrs Philips signed up to a matrimony service specifically looking for a married man.

Speaking to the programme, ‘The Men with Many Wives’, she explained: “I was married before and having gone through one divorce, you kind of know what you want in marriage, so I wanted someone who already knows how to be a husband.

Nabilah Philips dropped her promising academic career upon marriage

“I really enjoy being in a polygamous relationship. We are not stupid people who are forced into this type of relationship.”

Nabilah has two children with Mr Philips, who has six in total, and helps run his import-export business.

Mrs Philips is among thousands of Muslim women practising polygamy in the UK. Although illegal under UK law, sharia law permits men to have four wives.

‘The Men with Many Wives’ broadcasts on Channel 4 at 10pm on Wednesday.