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Iraq Legalizes Child Marriage: Parliament Passes Law Allowing Girls as Young as Nine to Wed

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BAGHDAD — Iraq's parliament has recently passed a series of controversial laws, one of which critics argue effectively legalizes child marriage. This amendment to the country's personal status law, passed amidst chaos and accusations of procedural irregularities on Tuesday, has stirred significant public outcry and international concern.


The amendment grants Islamic courts greater authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce, and inheritance, which opponents say undermines the 1959 Personal Status Law. This law had previously established a unified legal framework for family matters across all religious affiliations in Iraq, offering protections for women and setting a minimum marriage age at 18.


Under the new amendments, religious leaders can now interpret Islamic law to potentially allow marriage for girls as young as nine, especially under the Jaafari school of Shiite jurisprudence. Supporters of the change, predominantly conservative Shiite lawmakers, argue that the amendments align Iraqi law with Islamic principles and aim to reduce Western influence on the nation's culture.


Human rights activist Intisar al-Mayali, a member of the Iraqi Women's League, condemned the amendments, stating, "This will leave disastrous effects on the rights of women and girls, through the marriage of girls at an early age, which violates their right to life as children, and will disrupt the protection mechanisms for divorce, custody, and inheritance for women.


The parliamentary session concluded in disarray; some members protested against the procedural handling of the votes, which included passing three divisive laws simultaneously to garner support from different political blocs. An anonymous parliamentary official noted that "half of the lawmakers present did not vote," leading to accusations of a broken quorum.


Alongside the child marriage amendment, the parliament also passed a general amnesty law, likely to benefit Sunni detainees and address corruption and embezzlement charges, and a land restitution law aimed at resolving Kurdish territorial disputes.


The contentious passage of these laws has sparked protests, particularly around the issue of child marriage, with activists labeling the amendments as "disastrous" and a step toward legalizing child rape. Demonstrations have been held in Baghdad and other cities, with protesters voicing strong opposition to what they perceive as a rollback of women's rights and an increase in sectarian divisions.


International human rights organizations have also voiced their opposition. Amnesty International, for instance, has urged Iraq's parliament to reject these changes, emphasizing the need for legal reforms to protect women and girls from practices like honor killings and marital rape, rather than endorsing child marriage.


As this law moves forward, its implications could have far-reaching effects on Iraqi society, especially on the lives and rights of women and children. Critics fear that without significant pushback and reform, Iraq might see an increase in unregistered marriages, further entrenching discrimination and potentially leading to a rise in child marriages and associated abuses.


This legislative move has reignited debates on the balance between religious governance and human rights, highlighting the ongoing struggle for women's rights in Iraq amidst a backdrop of political and cultural shifts.

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