Sun Sep 15 11:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Iraq Faces Backlash as Parliament Considers Legalizing Child Marriage

**Baghdad, Iraq** – A proposed amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law, which could legalize child marriage, has sparked outrage and protests across the country. The legislation, currently under review by the Iraqi parliament, would allow couples to choose between the existing law’s provisions or those of Islamic Sharia law, some of which permit marrying girls as young as nine.

This proposed change has been met with fierce opposition from women’s rights groups, activists, and many younger Iraqis. They argue that legalizing child marriage would be a major setback for gender equality and perpetuate cycles of violence and discrimination against women.

“The proposed legislation creates a parallel system of governance, giving religious authorities power over personal affairs,” says Dunya Mikhail, an Iraqi-American poet and writer who has interviewed women and girls who escaped ISIS captivity. “It would betray their courage and be a profound step backward for the rights and dignity of Iraqi girls.”

Supporters of the amendment, largely from the governing Shia Coordination Framework, argue that it would simply allow for religious freedom and provide a way for more traditional communities to manage their personal affairs.

However, critics point out that the legislation would effectively legalize the same brutal patriarchy that ISIS enforced. They argue that legalizing child marriage would have severe consequences for female education, employment, and overall well-being. Girls who marry early are far more likely to drop out of school, further limiting their opportunities and perpetuating cycles of poverty.

The proposed law has also drawn criticism from human rights groups like Amnesty International, who warn that it could worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Iraq.

The debate over the proposed amendment highlights the ongoing struggle between progressive and conservative forces in Iraq. As the country attempts to rebuild after years of conflict, the fight for gender equality and women’s rights remains a crucial battleground.

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