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 on child marriages. According to UNICEF, 28% of girls in Iraq are married before the age of 18, and the new bill could exacerbate this issue by removing the existing age restriction.— Pawan (@IssacPresent) August 9, 2024 The Iraqi parliament is considering a bill that would allow girls to marry at the age of 9.
Currently, the age of marriage in #Iraq is 18, but it is possible to marry at the age of 15 with the permission of a judge and legal guardian. pic.twitter.
com/i5OysXKVJi — Aurora Borealis 🤫 (@aborealis940) August 9, 2024 “Their most efficient tool for this distraction is to terrorise Iraqi women and civil society with a legislation that strips away all the rights that Iraqi women gained in modern times, and force archaic Islamic sharia on them that regards women as bodies for pleasure and breeding, and not as human being[s] with human rights,” Yanar Mohammed, president of OWFI told Middle East Eye. Additionally, Tamara Amir, the CEO of the Iraqi Women’s Rights Platform added, “These proposed changes to the Personal Status law would have a profoundly negative impact on the rights and wellbeing of women and children in Iraq.” We should have the right to condemn them for the sins they carry out.
IRAQ CURRENTLY HAS A DRAFT BILL THAT WILL CHANGE THE AGE OF MARRIAGE TO 9 YEARS OLD.. that doesn't sit right in modern life.
They're kids!!!!!!— 🇬🇧Eyes Everywhere🇬🇧 (@Notfarrightt) August 9, 2024 Today, we are deeply saddened and alarmed by the news from Iraq, where a bill has been introduced to reduce the legal age of marriage for girls from 15 to 9 years old. We at Zamara strongly condemn the proposed legislation in Iraq to lower the legal age of marriage. This is a.
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twitter.com/KHYqIprQsp — Zamara Foundation (@Zamara_fdn) August 9, 2024 Iraq's Parliament introduces a bill to reduce the legal age of marriage for girls from 15 to 9. 15 is ridiculous to start with but 9.
As a father of a 9 year old, I hope you all burn in hell. These people are SICK. pic.
twitter.com/WlarCH558R — Sheepdog 🇺🇲 (@sheepdog_AF) August 9, 2024 Shia legislator in Iraq put up a new 'barbaric bill' that will lower marriage age for girls to 9.This is tantamount to legalising pedophilia.
— Rakesh Sudan (@duddyx) August 9, 2024 ST IN: 🇮🇶 Iraq's Parliament introduces bill to reduce the legal age of marriage for girls from 15 to 9. This is barbaric 🤮🫣 pic.twitter.
com/xl4H84aqrQ — African Folktales! (@Afrikanfolktale) August 8, 2024 If the bill passes, the legal age of marriage for girls would be nine, and for boys would be 15..
