Iraq passes law that critics say legalizes child marriage

BAGHDAD,— Iraq’s parliament passed a set of controversial laws on Tuesday, including amendments to the country’s personal status law, which critics argue could legalize child marriage.

The amendments, which grant Islamic courts more authority over family matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, have sparked concerns among human rights activists.

They claim the changes weaken the 1959 Personal Status Law, which unified family law and provided legal protections for women.

Under Iraq’s current law, the minimum marriage age is set at 18, but the amendments approved Tuesday would allow clerics to make rulings based on their interpretation of Islamic law. Some interpretations could allow the marriage of girls as young as 9, especially under the Jaafari school of Islamic law followed by many Shiite religious leaders in Iraq.

Supporters of the amendments, largely from conservative Shiite lawmakers, argue that the changes are necessary to align Iraq’s legal system with Islamic principles and reduce the influence of Western culture in the country.

In addition to the personal status law changes, parliament also passed a general amnesty law that is seen as benefiting Sunni detainees.

However, critics say the law could also shield individuals involved in corruption and embezzlement. Lawmakers also approved a land restitution law aimed at addressing territorial claims in the Kurdish region.

Intisar al-Mayali, a human rights activist and member of the Iraqi Women’s League, expressed alarm at the passing of the personal status law amendments.

She said the changes would have “disastrous effects on the rights of women and girls,” particularly through the legalization of child marriage. She added that the amendments would undermine protections related to divorce, custody, and inheritance for women.

The parliamentary session ended in confusion, with lawmakers accusing each other of breaking rules during the process. According to an anonymous parliamentary official, many lawmakers failed to vote, which disrupted the legal quorum. Some members protested loudly, while others climbed onto the podium in protest.

Following the session, several legislators expressed concerns over the voting process, in which all three controversial laws were grouped together for a single vote.

“Regarding the civil status law, we support it, but combining it with other laws could lead to legal challenges,” said Raid al-Maliki, an independent MP.

Despite the backlash, Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani hailed the approval of the laws, describing it as “a crucial step toward improving justice and regulating the daily lives of citizens.”

(With files from AP)