Iraq's controversial child marriage bill sparks outrage

In Baghdad and other Iraqi cities, there have been demonstrations against a proposed law that allows marriage with nine-year-old girls, reports The Guardian. Recently, the bill passed its first reading in the Iraqi parliament.

According to women's rights activists cited by the newspaper, the proposed law "will legalize child rape." They emphasize that marriage to a minor violates human rights, deprives girls of educational opportunities, and exposes them to violence.

The current law, enacted in 1959, shortly after the overthrow of the Iraqi monarchy, transferred decisions on family matters from religious authorities to the judiciary and prohibited marriages of individuals under the age of 18. Nonetheless, according to a 2023 UNICEF report, 28% of girls in Iraq are married before reaching adulthood. The new bill restores religious courts' authority to decide on family matters such as marriage, divorce, and child custody.

Shia groups have long sought to limit women's rights in Iraq, notes The Guardian. "Girls should be playing on playgrounds and attending school, not wearing wedding dresses," stated Sarah Sanbar, an Iraq expert at Human Rights Watch (HRW), as quoted by France24 television.

According to her, the proposed law, by giving religious courts power over marriages, "undermines the principle of gender equality in Iraqi law" and is a sign that the "country is regressing, not progressing." "Legalizing the marriages of nine-year-old girls is a theft of their future and well-being of countless women," she added.

HRW reported in 2024 that religious leaders in Iraq conduct thousands of weddings annually, including those involving minors, which are not recorded in state registries.