Iraq Passes Controversial Law Allowing Child Marriage Starting at Age Nine

IQIraq|

The Iraqi parliament has enacted a law permitting marriages as young as nine years old, sparking widespread outrage among women's rights advocates and human rights organizations. The legislation, passed on January 21, 2025, delegates authority to religious leaders to govern family matters, including marriage and divorce, effectively lifting a ban on child marriages that had been in place since the 1950s.

Critics argue that this law will undermine the rights of women and children, with lawyer Mohammed Juma stating, "We have reached the end of women’s rights and the end of children’s rights in Iraq." The new ruling allows religious sects to set the minimum age for marriage, which for Shia Muslim girls is notably lowered to just nine years, while Sunni girls can marry at 15.

Activists express fear that the new law could be retroactively applied, impacting existing cases related to alimony and custody disputes. Raya Faiq, from the feminist group Coalition 188, reported emotional testimonies from women concerned about their children's futures under this new legal framework.

According to a 2023 UN report, approximately 28% of girls in Iraq are married before reaching 18, with many entering these unions as a means to escape poverty, often resulting in a cycle of social stigma and limited opportunities due to interrupted education.

Opponents of the law have indicated plans to challenge its passage in federal court, citing a lack of quorum during the voting process. Observers continue to voice fears about the implications of prioritizing religious authority over legal protections for women and minors in Iraq.

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