Iraq is facing widespread outrage after a controversial amendment to the Personal Status Law was proposed, potentially allowing girls as young as nine to be married. The amendment, introduced by Islamist Shiite parliamentarians, has drawn sharp criticism from activists and the public alike.
Women’s rights activist Suhalia Al Assam condemned the proposal, questioning whether politicians would allow their own daughters to marry at such a young age. The amendment would also enable religious clerics to oversee personal status matters, a move critics fear could deepen sectarian divisions in the country.
The Iraqi parliament held its first reading of the bill, sparking immediate protests and raising concerns about the potential erosion of women’s rights. Iraq’s current Personal Status Law, which has been in place since 1959, is considered one of the most protective of women’s rights in the Middle East, setting the legal marriage age at 18.
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Human rights groups have expressed alarm over the proposal, warning that it could violate Iraq’s international obligations, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. A coalition of female MPs has formed to oppose the bill, arguing that it would harm future generations and further sectarianize Iraqi society.
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