Iraq’s parliament passed amendments to the country’s personal status law on Tuesday that critics claim could legalize child marriage, sparking intense backlash from human rights activists and lawmakers.
The amendments grant Islamic courts greater authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce, and inheritance. While Iraqi law currently sets the legal marriage age at 18, the changes allow clerics to decide cases based on Islamic law, which in some interpretations permits marriage for girls as young as nine.
Advocates of the amendments, largely conservative Shiite lawmakers, argue that the changes align family law with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence. However, opponents, including women’s rights groups, warn the amendments undermine Iraq’s 1959 Personal Status Law, which unified family law and established protections for women and children.
“This will leave disastrous effects on the rights of women and girls,” said Intisar al-Mayali, a human rights activist, citing concerns over early marriage, custody disputes, and inheritance issues.
Voting Chaos and Legislative Controversy
The session was marred by accusations of procedural violations, with some lawmakers alleging that the legal quorum was not met. All three controversial laws on the agenda — including the personal status amendments, a general amnesty law, and a land restitution law for Kurdish territorial claims — were bundled into a single vote, sparking further criticism.
“Half of the lawmakers present in the session did not vote, which broke the legal quorum,” said a parliamentary official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Protests erupted in the chamber, with some members climbing onto the podium in objection.
Independent MP Raid al-Maliki expressed dissatisfaction with the voting process, stating, “We strongly support the civil status law, but combining it with other laws in one vote might lead to a legal appeal at the Federal Court.”
Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani defended the outcome, calling the laws’ passage “an important step in enhancing justice and organizing the daily lives of citizens.”
Broader Implications and Security Developments
The general amnesty law, another divisive measure, is seen by critics as benefitting Sunni detainees and potentially shielding individuals involved in corruption. Meanwhile, the land restitution law aims to address Kurdish territorial disputes but has also drawn controversy.
In a separate incident on Tuesday, three officers, including the national security chief of the al-Tarmiyah district, were killed, and four others wounded in an explosion at an ammunition depot during a military operation targeting Islamic State activity north of Baghdad.
The parliamentary session and security developments highlight the ongoing challenges Iraq faces in navigating legislative reforms and maintaining stability amid political and social tensions.
Iraq is set to host an Arab summit on May 17, according to Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, who chaired a meeting in Baghdad to review preparations for the upcoming gathering.
Iraq and oil major BP, opens new tab signed a deal to redevelop four Kirkuk oil and gas fields, Iraq's state news agency reported on Tuesday.
Iran seeks to expand its transportation opportunities amid US sanctions by developing new railway connections with neighbouring countries.
Türkiye launched fresh airstrikes on Kurdistan Workers Party militants in Syria and Iraq overnight, hitting 47 targets, in response to a gun attack in Ankara
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his upcoming reciprocal tariffs will apply to all nations, rather than just targeting the 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade imbalances. Trump plans to unveil the tariff package on Wednesday, calling it “Liberation Day.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning that such a move would bring serious repercussions.
Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has warned of public unrest if elections are not held by December, following remarks from interim leader Muhammad Yunus suggesting a possible delay until 2026.
Over 300,000 Canadians were left without power on Sunday as a severe ice storm battered parts of Ontario, according to electricity provider Hydro One. The storm brought freezing rain and ice pellets over the weekend, with power outages continuing into Monday morning in some regions.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing more than 1,700 people and leaving 3,400 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a transitional government on Saturday, marking a key milestone in the country’s shift away from decades of Assad family rule and aimed at improving Syria's relations with the West.
Hamas has signaled acceptance of a Gaza ceasefire plan put forward by mediators Egypt and Qatar, according to the group’s chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya. In a televised speech on Saturday, al-Hayya stated that Hamas had received the proposal two days prior and responded positively.
The "Colonialism: Erasure of Religious and National Identity" conference in Baku gathers leaders of independence movements and political prisoners' families to discuss the suppression of identity under colonial rule, global anti-colonial movements, and reparations.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his upcoming reciprocal tariffs will apply to all nations, rather than just targeting the 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade imbalances. Trump plans to unveil the tariff package on Wednesday, calling it “Liberation Day.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning that such a move would bring serious repercussions.
Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has warned of public unrest if elections are not held by December, following remarks from interim leader Muhammad Yunus suggesting a possible delay until 2026.
Over 300,000 Canadians were left without power on Sunday as a severe ice storm battered parts of Ontario, according to electricity provider Hydro One. The storm brought freezing rain and ice pellets over the weekend, with power outages continuing into Monday morning in some regions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment