Baghdad (Pakistan News) Widespread outrage and concern have erupted in response to a bill introduced in Iraq’s Parliament that proposes lowering the legal marriage age for girls to 9 years old.
Currently, the legal age for marriage in Iraq is 18. Human rights organizations have expressed serious concerns over the proposed legislation, which would allow citizens to choose between religious authorities or civil courts for deciding family matters.
Critics of the bill warn that it could undermine rights related to inheritance, divorce, and child custody. If passed, the bill would permit girls as young as 9 and boys under 15 to marry.
Human rights groups, women’s organizations, and civil society members have strongly opposed the bill, highlighting the severe consequences it could have on young girls’ education, health, and well-being. They argue that lowering the marriage age could lead to higher rates of divorce, early pregnancies, and domestic violence.
According to UNICEF, 28% of girls in Iraq are married before the age of 18. Human Rights Watch researcher Sarah Sanbar has stated that passing this law would indicate that the country is regressing rather than progressing.