Iraq's new bill may lower marriage age for girls to nine, sparking outcry for women's rightsEdited By: Moohita Kaur Garg
Updated: Aug 08, 2024, 09:54 PM IST
WION NewsIraq is set to introduce a bill that may cut down the age of marriage to nine for girls and 15 for boys. Right advocates have raised an alarm that the bill introduced in the Iraqi parliament would roll back women's rights in an already patriarchal society and increase the prevalence of underage marriages in the country.
The bill, as per AFP, would allow citizens to choose between religious authorities or the civil judiciary for decisions on family matters.
Critics of the bill argue that the proposed changes could drastically reduce protections in areas such as inheritance, divorce, and child custody.
Of particular concern is the potential impact on the minimum age for marriage, which is currently set at 18 under the 1959 Personal Status Law. Opponents of the bill worry that it could effectively remove this age restriction, despite denials from lawmakers supporting the changes. ...