Iraqi Lawmakers Consider Allowing Nine-Year-Olds to Marry, Reports Say
The proposed changes to the nation's laws have been a persistent request from Shiite factions and could pave the way for the legalization of child marriage. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The amendments to Iraq's Personal Status Law, which have been a persistent demand of Shiite blocs, stand to potentially legalize child marriage.
On Tuesday, Iraq’s parliament approved three controversial acts, among them amendments that would permit girls to marry before the age of 15, as reported by Shafaq News. Critics of the legislation have expressed apprehensions that it could effectively sanction child marriage and strip women and girls of fundamental rights.
The new laws will enable clerics to endorse social relationships based on their interpretations of Islamic law. Certain readings of the law adhered to by many Shiite religious authorities in Iraq allow for the marriage of girls as young as nine.
Currently, Iraqi law stipulates that the legal marriage age for both genders is 18, although marriages can occur at 15 with the approval of a judge and a legal guardian.
These proposed changes, championed by the Shiite blocs that hold a majority in parliament, have sparked intense discussions among legislators and civil society groups.
Supporters of the amendments, mainly conservative Shiite members of parliament, contend that the changes are consistent with Islamic principles and aim to counter Western cultural influences within the region.
In contrast, human rights advocates argue that the bill jeopardizes Iraq’s 1959 Personal Status Law, which consolidated family law and provided protections for women.
The session also resulted in the passage of a general amnesty law expected to benefit Sunni detainees, as well as a land restitution law addressing Kurdish territorial claims. However, opponents have raised concerns that the amnesty law could also apply to individuals implicated in corruption and embezzlement.
The parliamentary proceedings concluded in turmoil, with accusations of procedural impropriety. Independent MP Saad Al-Toubi criticized the session for being politically biased, asserting that the “voting process was driven by political whims, and passing three laws in a single basket is illegal,” according to Shafaq News.
He further stated that the number of MPs participating in the vote did not meet the legal quorum, yet the parliamentary leadership swiftly announced the laws' approval.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Tuesday, Iraq’s parliament approved three controversial acts, among them amendments that would permit girls to marry before the age of 15, as reported by Shafaq News. Critics of the legislation have expressed apprehensions that it could effectively sanction child marriage and strip women and girls of fundamental rights.
The new laws will enable clerics to endorse social relationships based on their interpretations of Islamic law. Certain readings of the law adhered to by many Shiite religious authorities in Iraq allow for the marriage of girls as young as nine.
Currently, Iraqi law stipulates that the legal marriage age for both genders is 18, although marriages can occur at 15 with the approval of a judge and a legal guardian.
These proposed changes, championed by the Shiite blocs that hold a majority in parliament, have sparked intense discussions among legislators and civil society groups.
Supporters of the amendments, mainly conservative Shiite members of parliament, contend that the changes are consistent with Islamic principles and aim to counter Western cultural influences within the region.
In contrast, human rights advocates argue that the bill jeopardizes Iraq’s 1959 Personal Status Law, which consolidated family law and provided protections for women.
The session also resulted in the passage of a general amnesty law expected to benefit Sunni detainees, as well as a land restitution law addressing Kurdish territorial claims. However, opponents have raised concerns that the amnesty law could also apply to individuals implicated in corruption and embezzlement.
The parliamentary proceedings concluded in turmoil, with accusations of procedural impropriety. Independent MP Saad Al-Toubi criticized the session for being politically biased, asserting that the “voting process was driven by political whims, and passing three laws in a single basket is illegal,” according to Shafaq News.
He further stated that the number of MPs participating in the vote did not meet the legal quorum, yet the parliamentary leadership swiftly announced the laws' approval.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
