Sun Dec 01 20:16:21 UTC 2024: ## Iraqi Parliament Postpones Vote on Controversial Family Law Amendments
**Baghdad, Iraq –** Iraq’s parliament has postponed a vote on highly contentious legal amendments, including a revised family law bill, until Monday. The planned Sunday session was stalled due to disagreements over a separate amnesty law.
The family law amendments would allow individuals to choose between religious or state regulations for family matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Critics, including Amnesty International, fear this could lower the legal marriage age for girls, potentially enabling underage marriages and weakening protections for women. While a revised version reportedly sets the minimum age at 15 with court approval, concerns remain that it could pave the way for the adoption of Islamic jurisprudence allowing marriages of girls as young as nine.
The postponement also stems from a dispute over a general amnesty law. Sunni MPs are pushing for a comprehensive review of terror-related convictions, while others oppose reopening cases settled years ago. The amnesty law’s exclusion of convictions for serious crimes like terrorism, rape, and kidnapping is a key point of contention.
The family law bill has already faced significant backlash from feminist groups and civil society organizations. Previous delays have marked its progression through parliament. The ongoing disagreements highlight the deep political divisions within Iraq and the challenges in balancing religious and secular legal frameworks.
First Piper 