Iraq approves marriage of children, lowering the legal marriage age to nine years old.
PARLIAMENT PASSES CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENT ALLOWING CHILD MARRIAGE IN IRAQ
In a move that has alarmed human rights activists, Iraq's Parliament has passed an amendment to the country's Personal Status Law, effectively legalizing child marriage from the age of nine. This decision came approximately three months after lawmakers proposed a bill to reduce the legal age of consent from 18 to nine.
This controversial amendment grants Islamic courts increased authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce, and inheritance. The proponents of the amendment, primarily conservative Shiite lawmakers, argue that it aligns the law with Islamic principles and reduces Western influence on Iraqi culture.
However, critics, such as human rights activist Intisar al-Mayali, assert that the revisions undermine the 1959 Personal Status Law, which established safeguards for women and unified family law in Iraq. They argue that the amendments violate girls' rights to life, disrupt protection mechanisms for divorce, custody, and inheritance, and expose married girls to sexual and physical abuse, early pregnancy risks, and education deprivation.
In a statement concerning these developments, Amnesty International expressed concern, stating that child marriage denies girls their education and heightens their vulnerability to sexual and physical abuse and health risks related to early pregnancy.
The session, during which the amendment was passed, was marked by chaos and accusations of procedural violations, with several legislators complaining about the voting process.
In addition to the controversial amendment, the Parliament also passed a general amnesty law and a restitution law to address Kurdish territorial claims.
Efforts to limit women's rights have been ongoing in Iraq. In August 2023, the term "gender" was banned, erasing discourse about gender-based violence and broader structural inequality due to one's gender. Similarly, in April 2024, the country made same-sex relationships punishable with up to 15 years in prison.
According to the United Nations Gender Inequality Index, Iraq ranked 123 out of 188 countries in 2015, the lowest ranking in the Middle East and North Africa region compared to Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Iran. These recent developments indicate that the situation for women and girls in Iraq is set to worsen.
Science and health-and-wellness organizations might plan research studies to investigate the long-term health impacts of child marriage on young girls in Iraq, particularly focusing on early pregnancy risks, sexual and physical abuse, and education deprivation. Meanwhile, general news outlets are reporting on the ongoing political debates and controversies surrounding the protection of women's rights in Iraq, highlighting the recent amendments to the Personal Status Law that have raised serious concerns among human rights activists.
