A recent bill proposed in the parliament of Iraq has sparked widespread concern and controversy among citizens, especially activists. The bill proposed in Iraq’s parliament aims to lower the legal marriage age for girls in the country. The legal marriage age for girls in Iraq has now been reduced to nine years.
Reduction Of Legal Marriage Age To 9 Years Signify Patriarchy
Women’s rights advocates have been enraged since the new bill proposed in the parliament of Iraq, claiming the legal marriage age for girls to be reduced to just nine years. Earlier, the legal marriage age for girls in Iraq was 18 years. The bill suggests that a girl aged as young as 9 to 15 will be allowed legally to get married. This step has openly endorsed and allowed the legality of child marriages, which has been a topic of heavy condemnation and concern. This decision is also symbolic of the patriarchal nature of society in Iraq.
Justice Ministry Proposes Bill To Revise Nation’s Personal Safety Law
The contentious bill concerning the legal marriage age of girls was proposed by the Justice Ministry of Iraq. The bill was proposed to revise the nation’s Personal Safety Law, which currently entails the minimum legal marriage to be 18 years. In response to the controversial bill, protestors have begun staging demonstrations against the exploitative nature of the proposed legislation in the capital city of Baghdad.
Condemnation By Human Rights Activists And Women’s Groups
Human Rights Watch (HRW) researcher Sarah Sanbar claimed that this decision indicates “a country moving backward and not forward”. A member of the Iraq Women’s Network advocacy group, Amal Kabashi, stated that the amendment proposes a huge leeway for “male dominance over family issues”, referencing a society that already has a conservative background. Moreover, a lawmaker named Raed Al-Maliki who introduced the amendment refuted the claims that the proposed bill would permit the marriage of minors.
Support Received From Powerful Shia Blocs
The major argument among human rights activists, women’s groups, and civil societies is that child marriages lead to increased dropout rates, early pregnancies, and an elevated risk of domestic abuse and violence. According to the United Nations Children’s Agency, UNICEF, 28% percent of all girls in Iraq are already married before the age of 18. This bill was earlier proposed in late July but was objected to by many lawmakers. It resurfaced in a session recently and received the support of powerful Shia blocs that dominate the chamber.