A proposed bill in Iraq’s parliament has sparked widespread outrage and concern, as it seeks to reduce the legal age of marriage for girls to just 9 years old. The controversial legislation, introduced by the Iraq Justice Ministry, aims to amend the country’s Personal Status Law, which currently sets the minimum age for marriage at 18.
“If passed, this bill would allow girls as young as 9 and boys as young as 15 to wed, sparking fears of increased child marriage and exploitation,” said a spokesperson from a human rights organization.
Critics fear that this regressive move would undermine decades of progress in promoting women’s rights and gender equality.
“Passing this law would show a country moving backwards, not forwards,” remarked Human Rights Watch (HRW) researcher Sarah Sanbar.
According to the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF, 28 per cent of girls in Iraq are already married before the age of 18. This proposed change could exacerbate an already concerning issue.
“Girls belong on the playground and in school, not in a wedding dress,” Sanbar said when expressing her opposition to the amendment.
The withdrawal of proposed changes by parliament was met with relief from many lawmakers who objected. However, they resurfaced after receiving support from powerful Shia blocs that dominate the chamber. It is still unclear if this bid to change the law will succeed when several earlier attempts have failed.
