Nine-year-old girls in Iraq could be forced to marry under new Muslim laws
By Isabelle Gerretsen, IBTimes:
Human rights activists are warning that a new Iraqi law could legalise marriage for children as young as nine and set women’s rights back 50 years.
They are calling on Iraqi ministers to withdraw a draft of the Jafaari Personal Status Law which would allow Muslim clerics to have control over marriage contracts.
The legislation is based on the Shia principles of the Jaafari school of jurisprudence, which was founded by the sixth Shia Imam, Jaafar al-Sadiq.
The 2014 version of the bill, which was approved by Iraq’s Council of Ministers, includes provisions that would legalise marital rape, ban Muslims from marrying non-Muslims and allow nine-year-old children to marry.
On 1 November, Iraq’s Council of Representatives voted in principle to approve the amendment and the bill was signed by 40 parliamentarians. Iraq’s elections will be held in May next year.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
