Child marriage crisis, Iraq's proposed reduction of the legal age of marriage to 9 years drawing widespread criticism

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Child marriage crisis, Iraq's proposed reduction of the legal age of marriage to 9 years drawing widespread criticism

World

2025.01.22 15:23

Iraqi women protested the passage of the law outside parliament. (Internet)

On Jan. 21, Iraq's parliament passed a contentious amendment that could lower the legal marriage age for women to 9 years old.

This allows citizens to choose between Sunni or Shia religious laws for marriage, with Shia law permitting girls to marry at 9 and boys at 15. Currently, the legal marriage age is 18, with exceptions for those aged 15 with consent.

Twenty-eight per cent of girls in Iraq are married before the age of 18, and this amendment is likely to further exacerbate child marriage. (Xinhua)

The amendment has triggered widespread protests, with critics arguing it undermines women's rights by stripping them of divorce, custody, and inheritance rights. It also allows couples to shift from civil to religious marriage, seen as a major setback for women's rights.

A 35-year-old adult Iraqi male married a child bride after the law was passed. (Internet)

Activists emphasize that this issue affects society's overall dignity. Supporters of the bill argue it protects the right to determine personal status based on faith, while opponents claim it distracts from pressing issues like government corruption.

The international community has expressed deep concern, urging Iraq to uphold the rights of women and children. UNICEF highlighted that 28% of Iraqi girls are already married before 18, warning that this amendment could worsen child marriage.

Nearly half of South Koreans believe marriage is not necessary, primarily for insufficient funds

Tag:·Iraq parliament· Sunni· Shia· women's rights· government corruption