Iraq’s parliament has recently passed a law that lowers the minimum age of marriage for girls to nine years old for Shia Muslims, while Sunni Muslims have a minimum age of 15. Critics argue that it will increase child marriages and undermine the rights of women and girls. As of January 24, 2025, the law has met widespread condemnation from human rights activists and women’s rights groups, who claim that it will have disastrous effects on the rights of women and girls in Iraq.
Here’s what we know about the law:
- The new law gives religious authorities more power over matters of marriage, divorce, and inheritance, which critics argue will further limit legal protections for Iraqi women.
- The law has been defended by some conservative Shia lawmakers as a means to align Iraq’s laws with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence.
- Human rights advocates have warned that the law will lead to an increase in child marriages, with some clerics interpreting Islamic law as allowing girls as young as nine years old to be married.
- The law has also been condemned by many, including Iraqi MPs and women’s rights groups, who claim that it will have a devastating impact on the lives of women and girls in Iraq.
Supporters of the change argue that it aligns with traditional Islamic values, but critics warn it could plunge young girls into a cycle of early marriages and curtailed freedoms.
