Iraq plans to lower the age of consent for marriage for girls from 18 to 9 years – The Telegraph.

The Iraqi parliament is considering allowing men to marry children and taking away women's rights to divorce, custody, and inheritance. This was reported by The Telegraph.

Ultra-conservative Shia Muslim parties have proposed a new law aimed at stripping women and girls of their rights.

Under the new law, Iraq plans to lower the age of consent for marriage from 18 to 9 years, allowing men to marry young children. The law also deprives women of the rights to divorce, custody, and inheritance. The ruling coalition claims that these changes comply with Islamic law and protect girls from “immoral relationships.”

Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, Dr. Renad Mansour, emphasized that the proposed amendment is part of a political move by Shia Islamist groups to consolidate their power and restore legitimacy.

Experts and activists claim that the amendment effectively nullifies essential women's rights in the country.

This amendment to the law doesn't just undermine these rights; it erases them

said Iraqi researcher Sara Sanbar.

The Iraqi parliament plans to officially discuss the proposed amendments before voting.

The situation has sparked outrage on social media, with women's rights advocates accusing the government of trying to “legalize child rape.”

The ban on marrying before reaching the age of 18 has been in effect in Iraq since the 1950s. However, UNICEF studies indicate that 28% of Iraqi girls marry before reaching adulthood.

Recall that in Gaza, the military rescued a girl from Iraq who was kidnapped by ISIS in childhood. She spent 10 years in captivity. The girl was freed after many attempts due to a challenging security situation as a result of Israel's advance in the Gaza Strip.