Iraqi Lawmakers Approve Bill: Child Marriage Legalization Concerns Surface

Child Marriage Bill Passed in Iraq: What It Means and Why Critics Are Alarmed

On January 21, 2025, the Iraqi parliament passed amendments to the nation’s personal status law, effectively lowering the legal marriage age for girls to as young as nine. Previously, the minimum marriage age in Iraq was 18.

The new amendments grant Islamic courts increased authority over family matters, allowing clerics to rule based on their interpretations of Islamic law. Some denominations permit marriage for girls as young as nine under these interpretations.

Proponents of the amendments argue that aligning the law with Islamic principles reduces Western influence. However, human rights activists warn that these changes undermine the 1959 Personal Status Law, which provided safeguards for women, and could lead to forced early marriages and destabilized legal protections in divorce, custody, and inheritance matters.

The parliamentary session that passed the amendments was marked by controversy, with reports of procedural violations and disputes over the legal quorum. Despite these issues, the amendments were approved, reflecting a shift towards more conservative, religiously-driven governance in Iraq.