SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi lawmakers have proposed an amendment to the Personal Status Law No. 18 of 1959, potentially reviving child marriage in the country. The current law prohibits marriage for girls under 18, but the proposed changes could allow girls as young as nine to wed, raising significant concerns.
The amendment advocates for the implementation of Sharia laws, which could enable girls to marry at nine and boys at fifteen, undermining the existing legal framework that sets the minimum marriage age at eighteen.
Ashwaq Najib, a lawyer in Sulaimani, warns of the far-reaching consequences of this amendment, including impacts on marriage, polygamy, divorce, adoption, and inheritance.
“It seems as if they signed a blank document, noting only a few key terms. This raises concerns about a potential substantial amendment. The intentions are unclear. Are they merely preparing the bill to negotiate and compromise with the Kurdistan Region and Sunnis? This leaves many questions unanswered,” Najib said.
Women’s and children’s rights activist Ala Kamal expressed alarm at the potential push back of progress in women’s and children’s rights in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
“It is inconceivable that a young girl, who is still learning about the role of motherhood through play with a doll, could be subjected to early marriage simultaneously. Such an approach ignores her lack of understanding about what motherhood truly means, treating it as if it were merely a game. This premature imposition of marriage could lead to severe social repercussions,” Kamal argued.
Dilovan Mohammed, a gynecologist and obstetrician, emphasized the health risks associated with early marriage.
“Early childbirth, bleeding during delivery, preterm birth, and babies born with developmental delays and low birth weight are serious consequences associated with marriage before the age of 18. Additionally, during natural childbirth, the mother is more likely to experience significant perineal trauma, such as tearing or long-lasting wounds,” Mohammed warned.
The proposed amendment has sparked widespread concern among activists, with many fearing it could reverse years of progress in protecting the rights of women and children in Iraq.
Reporting by Hardi Osman, Zoom News reporter in Sulaimani.
