Iraq to lower age of consent to 9, deny women’s right to divorce in controversial legal amendment
Iraq’s parliament is advancing a controversial amendment to the country’s personal status law, which would allow men to marry girls as young as nine and restrict women’s rights in divorce, child custody, and inheritance.
The proposed changes, spearheaded by conservative Shia Muslim parties, would roll back Law 188, a landmark piece of legislation enacted in 1959 that established protections for families across religious sects, the Telegraph reports.
Despite widespread protests, a second reading of the bill was passed in September, with proponents arguing it would “protect girls from immoral relationships.” The amendment could make Iraq the country with the world’s lowest age of consent, with Iran currently having the second lowest at 13.
Law 188, also known as Iraq’s personal status law, has long been praised for its progressive stance on women’s rights in a region where such protections are often limited. However, if the new amendment passes, it would set back decades of progress by removing the legal marriage age of 18 and making it possible for girls as young as nine to marry.
Civil rights advocates are sounding the alarm. Razaw Salihy, an Iraq researcher at Amnesty International, called on lawmakers to reconsider the proposed changes. "These amendments would strip women and girls of crucial protections and allow for child marriages," she is quoted by the Standard.
Further emphasising that the amendment could have severe impact on the lives of women and girls across Iraq.
Civil society groups and international human rights organisations continue to advocate against the amendments, warning of lasting repercussions on women’s rights and protections in Iraq.
