Iraq to change marriage laws to allow men to marry even 9-year-old girls: report | World News

The bill would also allow citizens to choose either religious authorities or the civil justice system when deciding family matters.

The conservative government led by a coalition of Shiite parties wants to pass the proposed amendment to protect girls from “immoral relationships.” The second amendment to the law was passed on September 16th.

According to the report, it was known as “Law 188” when it was introduced in 1959 and was considered one of the most progressive laws in West Asia. It represented an overarching set of rules for the administration of Iraqi families regardless of their religious affiliation.

The coalition government said the proposed change was consistent with the strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law and aimed at “protecting” young girls. The government, which has a parliamentary majority, is expected to push through the law despite opposition from Iraqi women's groups.

According to UNICEF, there are already high rates of child marriage throughout Iraq. Around 28% of Iraqi girls are married by the age of 18 and the proposed changes are likely to worsen the situation.

Dr. Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, told The Telegraph that the move was the latest attempt by Shiite Islamists to consolidate power and regain legitimacy.

“It's not all Shiite parties, it's just the individuals who have the power and are really pushing things forward,” he was quoted as saying by the website.

“Emphasizing the religious side is a way for them to regain some of the ideological legitimacy that has waned in recent years,” Mansour added.

Activists are sounding the alarm

Human rights activists and experts in Iraq expressed fears that the proposed changes would erase women's rights and prioritize religion.

The report also noted that Iraq would be similar to the Islamic regimes in Afghanistan and Iran, where a theologian serves as the country's supreme leader.

A legal loophole in the country allows religious leaders to perform child marriages, provided they are carried out with the consent of the girl's father. This gap is believed to have led to a large number of child marriages. Activists fear the new law would allow such marriages to be legalized.

Human Rights Watch said the change would put young girls at increased risk of sexual and physical violence and also deny access to education and employment.