A proposed bill in Iraq’s parliament has sparked widespread outrage and concern, as it seeks to reduce the legal age of marriage for girls to just 9 years old.
The controversial legislation, introduced by the Iraq Justice Ministry, aims to amend the country’s Personal Status Law, which currently sets the minimum age for marriage at 18.
Activists across the country have however strongly opposed and protested the bill saying that it would effectively “legalise child rape” if passed.
“This is a catastrophe for women,” said Raya Faiq, the coordinator for a coalition of groups which are opposing the law change.
Meanwhile, according to report, although the country has outlawed marriage under the age of 18 since the 1950s, survey by the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, found that 28% of girls in Iraq had married before they reached the age of 18.
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