Iraq shocked everyone by passing three laws on tuesday, one of which might make child marriage legal. The country's personal status rules will be amended by the parliament, which opponents say will reinstate child marriage.
Islamic courts now have additional jurisdiction over personal issues including marriage, inheritance, divorce, and family thanks to these changes to personal rules. Activists claim that the present modifications undermine Iraq's 1959 Personal Status Law, which harmonized family law and gave women more protections.
The present law states that the minimum age to be married is 18. According to the Jaafari school of Islamic law, which is adhered to by many Shia authorities in Iraq, the amendments agreed on tuesday would give clerics the authority to enforce their interpretation of Islamic law, possibly allowing the marriage of girls as young as 9 or 13. Shiite conservatives mostly supported the modifications because they aimed to bring the legislation into line with Islamic principles and minimize the influence of other cultures in Iraq.
"Half of the lawmakers present in the session did not vote, which broke the legal quorum," a parliamentary official who wished to remain anonymous stated. He said that some members bravely opposed, while others ascended the legislative podium.
Following the session, several legislators voiced their displeasure with the voting procedure, citing in particular the grouping of three controversial measures with varying factions' support into a single vote. We are firmly in favor of the civil status law, and there were no problems with it. However, it was voted on alongside other legislation, which might result in a Federal court challenge, stated independent mp Raid al Maliki.
The three controversial laws
Among the three legislation that the parliament enacted was The national amnesty statute is thought to pardon those involved in theft and corruption while also favoring Sunni inmates. The second law addressed Kurdish territorial claims and was a land restoration statute.
The amendments to the civil status law, according to human rights activist and Iraqi Women's League member Intisar al-Mayali, "will leave disastrous effects on the rights of women and girls, through the marriage of girls at an early age, which violates their right to life as children, and will disrupt the protection mechanisms for divorce, custody, and inheritance for women."
Allegations of procedural irregularities and turmoil characterized the session.
Islamic courts now have additional jurisdiction over personal issues including marriage, inheritance, divorce, and family thanks to these changes to personal rules. Activists claim that the present modifications undermine Iraq's 1959 Personal Status Law, which harmonized family law and gave women more protections.
The present law states that the minimum age to be married is 18. According to the Jaafari school of Islamic law, which is adhered to by many Shia authorities in Iraq, the amendments agreed on tuesday would give clerics the authority to enforce their interpretation of Islamic law, possibly allowing the marriage of girls as young as 9 or 13. Shiite conservatives mostly supported the modifications because they aimed to bring the legislation into line with Islamic principles and minimize the influence of other cultures in Iraq.
"Half of the lawmakers present in the session did not vote, which broke the legal quorum," a parliamentary official who wished to remain anonymous stated. He said that some members bravely opposed, while others ascended the legislative podium.
Following the session, several legislators voiced their displeasure with the voting procedure, citing in particular the grouping of three controversial measures with varying factions' support into a single vote. We are firmly in favor of the civil status law, and there were no problems with it. However, it was voted on alongside other legislation, which might result in a Federal court challenge, stated independent mp Raid al Maliki.
The three controversial laws
Among the three legislation that the parliament enacted was The national amnesty statute is thought to pardon those involved in theft and corruption while also favoring Sunni inmates. The second law addressed Kurdish territorial claims and was a land restoration statute.
The amendments to the civil status law, according to human rights activist and Iraqi Women's League member Intisar al-Mayali, "will leave disastrous effects on the rights of women and girls, through the marriage of girls at an early age, which violates their right to life as children, and will disrupt the protection mechanisms for divorce, custody, and inheritance for women."
Allegations of procedural irregularities and turmoil characterized the session.
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