Amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law, a long-held objective of Shiite parliamentary blocs, could effectively legalize child marriage.
Controversial legislation passed by Iraq’s parliament on Tuesday includes amendments potentially lowering the minimum marriage age for girls. Shafaq News reports this change, sparking concern amongst opponents that it will legalize child marriage and curtail women’s rights.
The revised law grants religious authorities greater leeway in interpreting Islamic law regarding marriage, potentially permitting unions for girls as young as nine, in line with some Shiite interpretations.
While Iraq’s current law sets the legal marriage age at 18 for both genders, it allows for exceptions at 15 with judicial and guardian approval. The proposed changes alter this.
These amendments, a longstanding goal of the dominant Shiite blocs in parliament, have sparked intense debate both within the parliament and among civil society groups.
Supporters, largely conservative Shiite lawmakers, contend the changes better reflect Islamic principles and resist Western influence.
Conversely, human rights advocates argue the amendments weaken the 1959 Personal Status Law’s protections for women and its unified family law framework.
Alongside these amendments, parliament approved a general amnesty, potentially benefiting Sunni detainees, and a land restitution law addressing Kurdish territorial disputes. However, critics claim the amnesty could pardon corrupt individuals.
The parliamentary session concluded amidst chaos and accusations of procedural irregularities.
Independent MP Saad Al-Toubi denounced the session as politically motivated, asserting the voting process was manipulated and the passage of three laws simultaneously was illegal, according to Shafaq News. He added that the vote count fell short of the required quorum.