Young Iraqi girls who are separated for years before they reach their teens could be forced to become wives if a new Shiite-backed law is passed. The new law lowers the age of consent for girls from 18 to 9.
This includes allowing parents to enter into arranged marriages for their young daughters.
Iraq does not have a male guardianship system, which requires women to have permission from their husbands, fathers or other male guardians to make important life decisions such as marriage. The law would also allow religious authorities to perform marriages.
The bill, which is being proposed as the second bill to pass through the parliamentary system, is opposed by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the activist group Women. To Guardian.
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On February 25, 2024, in Karbala, Iraq's central city, a candlelight ceremony was held outside Imam al-Mahdi's mausoleum on the 15th day of the Islamic month of Shaban, two weeks before the holy month of Ramadan. An Iraqi girl lights a lamp. . (Mohamed Sawaf/AFP via Getty Images)
“This is a disaster for women,” said Raya Faik, coordinator of a coalition of groups opposing the law change. The coalition also includes members of Iraq's parliament.
“My husband and my family are against child marriage, but what if my daughter gets married and her husband wants to marry my granddaughter at an early age? The new law will allow it. I won't be allowed to object. The law legalizes child rape.”
The new law would revive the Taliban's style of cutting back on women's rights.
On February 21, 2024, young Iraqi girls who are old enough to wear hijabs wear the headgear worn by many Muslim women for the first time during a ceremony held at the Basra International Stadium in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. to wear. (Hussein Fareh/AFP via Getty Images)
Iraqis have been protesting on the streets of the capital Baghdad and other cities across the country. The protests have been met with clashes with local police.
Marriage before the age of 18 has been the country's law since the 1950s, but UNICEF research shows that 28% of Iraqi girls are married before the age of 18.
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Nadia Mahmoud, co-founder of the Iraq-based Aman Women's Alliance, said Iraq's male-dominated parliament felt threatened by youth organizations and women's movements.
“Following that, mass youth protests “This election in Iraq in 2019 made political actors realize that the role of women in society was starting to strengthen,” the Guardian reported, adding, “They were feminist, gender In addition to organizations, civil society, women's organizations, and activist movements posed a threat to their power and status… [and] began to restrict and oppress them. ”
Young Iraqi girls who are old enough to wear hijabs wear the headgear worn by many Muslim women during a ceremony held at the Basra International Stadium in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on February 21, 2024. Wearing it for the first time. (Hussein Fareh/AFP via Getty Images)
The 25 female members of the Iraqi government tried to prevent a second vote on the bill, but strong opposition from their male colleagues made it nearly impossible.
“Unfortunately, the male legislators who support this law ask in masculine terms what is wrong with marrying a minor. Instead of considering that you are a member of parliament who decides your fate, you should rather obey.''They are trying to allow all this with their masculine mindset,'' said Iraqi parliament member Alia Nassif.
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Protesters fear their children could face an even harsher future than themselves if the law changes are adopted.
Azhar Jasim, who had to drop out of school to get married at the age of 16, said: “I have a daughter and I don't want her to be forced into marriage as a child like I was.'' ” he said.
