Desk:Iraq’s conservative government is set to pass amendments to the marriage law, allowing men to marry girls as young as nine. According to The Telegraph, the proposed changes would also limit women’s rights to divorce, child custody, and inheritance. The bill would give citizens the choice to have family matters decided by religious authorities or the civil judiciary.
Led by a coalition of Shia parties, the government claims these amendments aim to protect young girls from immoral relationships. This law was first known as Law 188 in 1959 and was regarded as one of the most progressive in the Middle East. However, the recent amendments align with a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, aiming to safeguard young girls, according to the coalition government. Despite opposition from Iraqi women’s groups, the majority-backed government is expected to pass the law.
UNICEF reports that child marriage rates are already high in Iraq, with 28% of Iraqi girls marrying before the age of 18. Experts fear these amendments could worsen the situation. Dr. Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, told The Telegraph that this is the latest move by certain Shia Islamist factions to strengthen their hold on power and regain ideological legitimacy, which has waned in recent years.
