On Tuesday, Iraq's parliament approved three contentious laws, sparking debate and criticism from various groups. One of the laws includes amendments to the personal status law, which opponents argue could potentially legalize child marriage. These amendments grant Islamic courts more authority over family matters, such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, raising concerns about the rights of women.
The changes were supported by conservative Shiite lawmakers who believe they align the law with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence on Iraqi culture. Currently, Iraqi law sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 in most cases. However, the amendments would allow clerics to interpret Islamic law, potentially permitting the marriage of girls as young as their early teens.
In addition to the personal status law amendments, the parliament also passed a general amnesty law that could benefit Sunni detainees and individuals involved in corruption. Another law focused on land restitution to address Kurdish territorial claims.
Human rights activist expressed concerns about the impact of the civil status law amendments on women and girls, emphasizing the potential risks associated with early-age marriages and the disruption of protection mechanisms for women's rights.
The parliamentary session ended in chaos, with accusations of procedural violations. Some lawmakers did not vote, leading to questions about the legal quorum. There were protests during the session, with complaints about the voting process that combined multiple controversial laws for a single vote.
Despite the controversy, Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani praised the passage of the laws as a step towards enhancing justice and organizing citizens' daily lives. Meanwhile, a tragic incident occurred on the same day, with three officers killed and four wounded in an explosion at an ammunition depot north of Baghdad during a joint military operation.
