A controversial bill proposed in the Iraq’s parliament recently evoked widespread outrage and concern among the human rights group and women’s organization. This new bill proposed has introduced some amendments to the legal age of marriage. For girls, the age has been reduced to 9 and boys to 15. The current legal age of marriage in Iraq is said to be 18 years.  

However, if passed, the bill will result in raising serious concerns on social norms like child marriage and exploitation of young girls in the country. 

As per the Iraq Justice Ministry, under the new bill, the people would have to choose whether to follow religious rules or civil court system for family matters such as inheritance, divorce and child custody etc. 

Critics raise concerns against Bill 

This amendment in the Iraq’s parliament has brought several major concerns among the human rights activist groups and women’s organization. 

Exploitation of girls 

The Human rights group and activists are strongly opposing the bill and warned the government about some serious unforeseen situations and the negative impacts on the young girls’ lives, health, education and overall well-being. 

Critics have also raised a concern that marriage at the age of 9 may lead to dropping out of schools, getting pregnant at young age and prone to domestic violence and other mental and physical illnesses.  

A male dominant society 

They have also claimed that the system would lead to a male dominant society. 

UNICEF’s report on Iraq 

Further, the United Nation’s Children agency, UNICEF has revealed in a report that around 28% of girls in Iraq are already married before turning 18 years.  

Human Rights Watch (HRW) takes stand against Iraq’s Government 

Human Rights Watch (HRW)’s esteemed researcher Sarah Samber also put forth some of the major loopholes in the bill. She stressed that passing the bill would show a country moving backward, not forward and said, “Legalizing the marriage of girls as young as nine years old steals the futures and well-being of countless girls.” While emphasizing the basic lives of the girls, she said that girls belong to the playground and schools, not in a wedding dress. 

Reflections from the new Bill 

Notably, this bill was earlier withdrawn in late July after multiple objections and back lashes from many lawmakers. Later, it surfaced again on August 4 following the backing of Shia Blocs— a powerful political and military group of Shia Muslims that dominate the parliament. The proposed law was aimed to standardize the Islamic law and protect the girls from getting into immoral relationships.