• durgesh dubey
• 10 Aug, 2024

girls

A highly controversial bill has been introduced in Iraq's parliament that could potentially lower the legal marriage age to 9 for girls and 15 for boys, sparking widespread outrage. The proposed legislation would also allow citizens to choose whether religious authorities or the civil judiciary should oversee family matters, raising concerns about its potential to undermine legal protections related to inheritance, child custody, and divorce.

Currently, Iraq’s Personal Status Law sets the legal marriage age at 18. Critics argue that this bill, if passed, would represent a significant step backward for the country. Human Rights Watch (HRW) researcher Sarah Sanbar has warned that passing such a law would be a regression, not progress. HRW has also highlighted the issue of unregistered child marriages, which are already conducted by religious leaders in violation of existing laws.

Child marriage has long been a problem in Iraq, with UNICEF reporting that 28% of women aged 20 to 24 were married before turning 18, and 7% were married before the age of 15. Amal Kabashi, of the Iraq Women's Network, has voiced concern that the amendment would give men even more control over family matters in an already conservative society.

The proposal was initially withdrawn from parliament in July due to backlash, but it was reintroduced on August 4 with the backing of influential Shiite blocs. MP Raed al-Maliki, who introduced the bill, denies any intention to lower the marriage age and claims that objections are part of a "malicious agenda" aimed at denying certain Iraqis their personal rights. Al-Maliki has a history of introducing controversial legislation, including proposals to criminalize homosexuality and sex-reassignment surgeries.

The bill has raised fears of an increase in child marriages and a rollback of progress in women's rights and gender equality in Iraq.