Iraq Considers Lowering the Age of Marriage to 9 (4 photos)

Currently, according to the country's laws, one can marry at the age of 18; these amendments to the Personal Status Law No. 188 were adopted back in 1959 and have not been amended to this day.





But since the end of last month, calls to comply with Sharia law have become increasingly common, and the Shiite party, which has a majority in the Iraqi parliament, has decided to submit for public consideration an initiative to lower the age of consent to religious norms - 5 years for boys and 9 years for girls.



Heated debates have flared up in society about the advisability of such measures. In addition to lowering the age, if the amendments are adopted, women will lose the right to file for divorce, lose the right to custody of children and the ability to inherit. The opposition, represented by activists, held demonstrations with posters calling for the country not to slide into the dark past.





The ruling coalition stated that the amendments comply with Islamic law and protect girls from “immoral relationships.” And it recalled that judges are sometimes faced with a fait accompli and often decide to register the marriage of minors.



Some Iraqi politicians and human rights activists are reporting a possible increase in the number of forced marriages among adult men and little girls. The amendments have not yet been adopted and are only under consideration, so they may not be adopted.