Iraq Passes Law Lowering the Legal Age of Marriage for Girls from 18 to 9
Amendments to marriage law spark outrage as critics warn of human rights violations and cultural setbacks
- Iraq’s new law reduces the legal marriage age for girls to 9 and for boys to 15
- Critics argue the law will harm women and children
- The controversial vote process, with lawmakers protesting, raises doubts about the law’s legitimacy and could prompt a legal appea
Iraq has sparked international outrage after passing controversial amendments to its marriage laws, effectively legalizing child marriage.
The law, passed on January 21, 2025, lowers the legal age of marriage for girls from 18 to as young as nine, with boys allowed to marry at 15.
The amendments give religious clerics the authority to interpret the law based on their interpretation of Islamic principles, allowing them to override the previous standard. Critics argue that this move disproportionately harms women and girls, endangering their human rights and protections surrounding divorce, custody, and inheritance.
Supporters of the law defend it as a step toward preserving cultural values and reducing Western influence. However, the controversial voting process, in which three separate laws were voted on together, has raised doubts about its legitimacy, with many lawmakers abstaining.
Afrah Qassim, CEO of Savera UK, condemned the decision, calling it a dangerous rollback of progress made since child marriage was banned in Iraq in 1959. “Child and forced marriage is abuse and a violation of human rights, not part of any culture or faith,” she declared.
The legal battle may be far from over, as there are growing calls for a federal court appeal and international pressure to prevent the law’s implementation. The fate of Iraq’s children hangs in the balance, as activists vow to continue their fight against child marriage.
