Iraq Marriage Age: Men To Be Allowed To Marry 9-Year-Old Girls As Iraqi Government Plans To Lower Legal Age of Consent, Child Marriages Could Become More Frequent
Iraq is set to amend its marriage laws, potentially lowering the legal age of consent from 18 to nine.
Baghdad, November 11: Iraq is set to amend its marriage laws, potentially lowering the legal age of consent from 18 to nine, a report said. The development is likely to spark a significant controversy. Experts argued that the amendment if approved, could result in frequent child marriages becoming more frequent. The legislation will also affect the women as they will be deprived of rights to divorce, child custody and inheritance as well.
According to The Telegraph report, dominant Shia Muslim parties in the Iraqi Parliament have proposed changes to the "personal status law," which could lead to a significant rollback of women's rights, similar to Taliban practices. If passed, these changes would strip Iraqi women of rights to divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Iraq Passes Legislation Criminalising Homosexuality, Couples To Face 15 Years in Prison.
Iraq Set to Slash Age of Consent to Nine
The proposed amendments represent a shift from the 1959 Law 188, which transferred family law authority from religious figures to the state judiciary post-monarchy. Shia Muslim parties argue that the changes align with Islamic law and protect young girls from 'immoral relationships.'
This move has gained unprecedented momentum, with a second reading of the amendment passed in September. Dr Renad Mansour of Chatham House notes, "It's the closest it's ever been. The empowered Shia parties are really pushing it to regain ideological legitimacy." US Troops To End Military Mission and Depart Bases in Iraq by 2025 Under New Agreement.
Opponents criticise the government for attempting to erode women's rights, while human rights groups warn that the new law puts young girls at risk of sexual and physical violence. Despite a 1950s ban on child marriages, 28% of Iraqi girls are married before 18, often through religious loopholes allowing such unions with paternal consent, per UNICEF data.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 11, 2024 11:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).