Summarised by Centrist
Iraq’s parliament is nearing a vote on a proposed law to cut in half the legal age of consent for marriage from 18 to nine, a measure led by conservative Shia Muslim parties.
The amendment would also purportedly revoke rights for women, including divorce, child custody, and inheritance, undoing protections under the current Personal Status Law, also known as Law 188, established in 1959, which curbed child marriages, and granted women rights in marriage, divorce, and child custody.
Protests, largely led by Iraqi feminist groups like Coalition 188, have erupted in major cities, accusing the government of exploiting religious law for political gain and threatening Iraq’s social fabric.
Critics warn that the amendment could reinforce sectarian divisions and erode national unity, with many Iraqis calling for a unified, secular legal approach that protects all citizens equally.
However, a loophole permits religious authorities to sanction marriages involving girls as young as 15, provided they have parental – typically paternal – permission.
Consequently, women’s rights activists say this loophole leaves young girls vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and exploitation while preventing them from accessing the legal protections that an official marriage would provide.
