On January 21, Iraq's parliament passed a law that effectively legalizes child marriage. The changes give Islamic courts greater powers in family matters, including marriage and divorce, the Iraqi law defines 18 as minimum age for marriage However, the adopted changes would allow clerics to make decisions "in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law".
Some of them believe that girls can be married in their "early adolescence" or as young as nine. Activists say the changes undermine Iraq's 1959 Personal Status Law, which unifies family law and provides guarantees for women.
Supporters of the changes, including conservative Shia lawmakers, say the law is "aligned with Islamic principles" and will reduce "Western influence" on Iraqi culture.According to 2024 UN data, about 28% of women in Iraq were married before reaching adulthood. Before the law was passed, religious leaders could register marriages with girls with the father's permission. Moreover, such a marriage was not considered official, and the girl, for example, could be refused admission to the maternity hospital.
Even before the approval of the amendments, human rights activists stated that the legalization of child marriage would significantly increase the risk of physical and sexual violence for girls.
