Iraq is set to introduce legal amendments to its marriage laws, permitting girls as young as nine to marry. The proposed changes also aim to strip women of key rights, including divorce, child custody, and inheritance, as reported by The Telegraph.
The bill would allow citizens to choose between religious authorities or the civil judiciary to settle family matters. The conservative government, led by a coalition of Shia parties, argues that the amendments will protect girls from “immoral relationships.” Despite this, the proposed changes have sparked significant opposition from women’s groups in Iraq.
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The new amendments align with a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law and are seen as an attempt to consolidate power for the Shia Islamist coalition. While the law was considered progressive when it was first enacted in 1959, activists warn that these amendments will worsen the already high rates of child marriage in Iraq, where 28% of girls are married by 18, according to UNICEF.
Human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have expressed concerns that the amendments will further erode women’s rights, exacerbate risks of sexual and physical violence, and limit girls’ access to education and employment. The law could also legitimize child marriages, especially with a loophole allowing religious leaders to officiate such unions with parental consent.
