Having mistresses is a French way of life, says accused polygamist

London, Apr 27 (ANI): A Muslim Frenchman alleged by the country's government to be living in a polygamous arrangement with four women and committing benefit fraud via their 12 children has hit out at the authorities, saying that keeping mistresses was the French way of life.

French interior minister Brice Hortefeux said Lies Hebbadj's citizenship should be revoked if allegations that he had four wives proved to be true, reports The Telegraph.

But the Algerian-born butcher hit back, saying: "If we are stripped of nationality, for having mistresses, there would be a lot of French people stripped of nationality.As far as I know, mistresses are not forbidden, neither in France, nor in Islam."

Hebbadj's case came in the limelight after it emerged last week that his wife had been fined for driving with a face-covering veil authorities claimed hindered her vision. (ANI)