Iraq passes law that will allow child marriage, critics warn

Iraq Passes Law Critics Say Could Legalize Child Marriage
Iraqi lawmakers have passed amendments that give courts more authority in family matters, the Associated Press reported, and critics are concerned the move may spark a rise in child marriages. Newsweek contacted Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment via email outside normal business hours.
Iraq May Lower Marriage Age for Girls to NINE: Marriage or Legalized Rape, Question Activists
Iraq’s proposal to lower the legal marriage age for girls to as young as 9 isn’t about protection—it’s about controlling and subjugating women and girls for the pleasure and entitlement of men. This isn’t a cultural issue—it’s an abuse of power that seeks to legally endorse what can only be described as child rape.
Iraqi lawmakers pass a bill that critics say legalizes child marriage
Iraq’s parliament has passed three divisive laws including amendments to the country’s personal status law that opponents say would in effect legalize child marriage.
Iraq Lowers Age of Marriage For Girls To Nine, Sparks Outrage
Iraq passes shocking amendments allowing child marriage from age nine, sparking international human rights criticism and deep concerns about women's and children's protection.
Iraq Passes Law That Could Legalise Child Marriage For Girls As Young As 9, Activists Criticise Move
For Shia Muslims, who make up a majority in the country, the lowest age of marriage for girls will be nine years old, while for the Sunnis, the official age will be 15.
Iraq Approves Child Marriages for Girls as Young as 9
Iraq’s parliament has approved new legislation that would lower the minimum age of marriage below 18, a shift rights groups say will legalize “child rape” in Iraq. The new law gives religious authorities more power over matters of marriage,
Iraq lowers age of consent to 9 years old with sick law to allow old men to marry girls
The amendments give Islamic courts increased authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
Iraq: Revised 'sectarian' law that raised fears over child marriage passed without vote
MP says new Personal Status Law amendment no longer allows child marriage but concerns remain over impact of legislation
Iraq passes divisive laws that critics say legalises child marriage
Iraqi law currently sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage in most cases. The changes passed Tuesday would let clerics rule according to their interpretation of Islamic law, which some interpret to allow marriage of girls in their early teens — or as young as 9 under the Jaafari school of Islamic law followed by many Shiite religious authorities in Iraq.
Iraq passes law that will allow child marriage, critics warn: 'Disastrous'
The amendments to Iraq's personal status law allow clerics to rule on marriages based on their interpretation of Islamic law.
Iraq legalises child marriage following proposal to lower age of consent to nine
Roughly three months after Iraqi lawmakers proposed a bill to slash the country’s legal age of consent from 18 to nine years old, Iraq’s parliament passed an amendment to the country’s personal status law that effectively legalises child marriage,
Iraq effectively lowers legal age of marriage to NINE after passing laws allowing hardline Islamist clerics to decide
IRAQ has effectively legalised child marriage, with girls as young as nine being able to marry after amendments to decades ...
Iraqi Parliament Passes Controversial Personal Status And General Amnesty Laws
On January 21, 2025, the Iraqi Parliament passed several laws, including the amended personal status law and a general ...