Iraq is about to vote on a new law that would change the legal age for girls to marry from 18 to just 9 years old. This means men would be allowed to marry very young girls. The proposal comes from Shia conservative groups that have a lot of power in Iraq’s parliament and could take away many rights for women.
Raya Faiq, who is working with other female representatives to fight against this law, called it a disaster for women, saying it would legalize child rape. Critics argue that this law would take away women’s ability to make their own choices.
Since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, which aimed to remove the harsh rule of Saddam Hussein, the country has faced ongoing conflict. The current government is mainly controlled by Shia Muslims, who now have enough power to push this new law through, despite previous attempts to change the personal status law being stopped by public outcry from women.
Many male lawmakers don’t see the problem with allowing older men to marry young girls. Alia Nassif, an Iraqi representative, said some of her colleagues have a narrow view of the issue and don’t understand the harm it could cause.
If this law passes, it would also take away women’s rights to get divorced, gain custody of their children, and inherit property. Supporters of the law argue it aims to protect girls from what they see as immoral relationships, but opponents believe it threatens women’s rights and safety.
Human rights groups warn that the law would put young girls at risk of abuse and make it easier for them to drop out of school. Although child marriages were banned in Iraq in the 1950s, a recent United Nations survey found that about 28% of girls in Iraq get married before turning 18.
