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Iraq. Weddings for children from the age of 9 were legalized. We have reached the end of women's rights

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In Iraq, changes were passed in the law that legalized marriages of even 9-year-old girls. The approval of such weddings will now be decided by the clergy of particular branches of Islam. – We have reached the end of women's rights and the end of children's rights in Iraq – commented lawyer Mohammed Juma, one of the main opponents of the changes.

Parliament Iraq approved on Tuesday amendments to the Family Law Act that will legalize child marriage. The amendment gives Islamic courts greater authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce and inheritance. Clergy will be able to follow their own interpretation of Islamic law in these matters.

As a result of the amendments introduced, various regulations will apply in Iraq at the same time, adapted to representatives of different religious groups. The Guardian reports that citizens of the Sunni faith will be able to marry from the age of 15, while some followers of Shiism even from the age of 9. As Human Rights Watch (HRW) notes, in the case of the Jafari strand of Shiite Islam that dominates in Iraq, marriages between 9-year-old girls and 15-year-old boys are approved.

– We have reached the end of women's rights and the end of children's rights in Iraq – commented lawyer Mohammed Juma, one of the main opponents of the changes.

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The changes were condemned by human rights organizations

The previous law, an act in force since 1959, allowed marriages after the age of 18. Still, according to the data UN from 2023 28 percent girls got married before reaching the age of majority. Planned changes in the law already last year sparked widespread protests and raised concerns about women's rights.

The amendments were supported primarily by Shiite parliamentarians, who believed that the changes would adapt the law to Islamic principles and would help reduce Western influence on Iraqi culture. Clergy of this denomination are now to prepare a list of religious rulings relating to family law and present it to parliament. Sunni political parties will not present their interpretation and announce that they will abide by the current law.

As Human Rights Watch (HRW) emphasized, the changes will threaten children's rights and undermine citizens' constitutional right to equality. They will also limit protection for divorced women. Previously, when a husband filed for divorce, the wife had the right to live in their current home for three years, and the husband had to return her dowry and pay alimony for two years. However, some Islamic denominations believe that a divorcee has no right to the marital home, maintenance or dowry, and the couple's children should be placed under the husband's care after two years. Women would also lose some inheritance rights, and if the deceased owner did not leave a male heir, the agricultural land would be transferred to the state treasury.

SEE ALSO: Congress supported a ban on child marriage. The debate was stormy

Main photo source: PAP/EPA/AHMED JALIL



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