A bill proposed in Iraq’s parliament has sparked global concern as it seeks to lower the legal marriage age of girls from 18 to just nine in the country. Introduced by the Iraq Justice Ministry, it was put forward as an amendment to the country’s 1959 Personal Status Law, which was once considered a critical move in the advancement of women’s rights in Iraq. It set the legal marriage age to 18 and also transferred the jurisdiction of family matters from religious authorities to the state.
Now, supporters of the bill argue the amendment will protect young girls from immoral relationships. Whereas people in opposition emphasize it would lead to child marriage and exploitation. It is also suggested the new proposal would let families choose whether civil courts or religious authorities would handle family affairs but opposition highlights this could reduce women’s rights in cases of divorce, inheritance, and child custody.
Iraqi Women’s rights organizations have publicly demonstrated against the bill over fears of child marriage and exploitation that would undo years of progress in promoting women’s rights and gender equality in the country. Previously, a group of activists gathered at the Tahrir Square in Baghdad to oppose the bill. Members from the Organisation of Women’s Freedom (OWFI) in Iraq held placards that read “The era of female slaves is over” and “No to the marriage of minors.
” Human rights groups are particularly alarmed by the potential impact.