in Iraq, a bill aims to lower the age of consent from 18 to 9 years

“Girls should be able to go to school or play in the playground, instead of being forced to wear a wedding dress”denounced Sarah Sanbar, researcher specializing in Iraq, at Human Rights Watch. In Iraq, a bill aims to lower the legal age of consent from 18 to 9 years. Currently no date has been revealed for its adoption or final vote. If adopted, men could marry very young girls, a practice already common in the country, but illegal. The measure would also strip women of the right to divorce, custody of children after the breakdown of a marriage and inheritance. Carried by the coalition of conservative Shiite Muslim parties in power, the amendment would cancel Law 188 adopted in 1959 and considered the most progressive in the Middle East. The latter allows women in particular to divorce.

The coalition 'never been this close' to pass such a law, explains Dr Renad Mansour, researcher at Chatham House (a British institute for international reflection), to the English newspaper The Telegraph . Amendments to Law 188 failed in 2014 and 2017 following protests from Iraqi women, but this year, “the movement is more dynamic than it has ever been, mainly because of the Shiite parties” who want “consolidate their power”he declares.

According to Unicef, 28% of Iraqi women are married before the age of 18. A situation that is nevertheless illegal, but which takes advantage of a loophole in law 188 which allows religious leaders to celebrate marriages. The latter authorize young girls to marry with the agreement of their father. “My father sold me to the brother of one of his friends. I didn't want to marry him, he was too old, violent, always very angry. But I couldn't refuse.”explains Shaima, a 47-year-old divorced woman in The Cross. These marriages are not recognized by the state and deprive these women of their rights such as being able to give birth in a hospital (impossible without a marriage certificate). The amendment currently being debated would legalize these unions, but would expose young girls to the risk of sexual and physical violence, according to Human Rights Watch.

“This is a first in the history of the country”

“If this project passes, it will destroy women’s lives even more. To gain my freedom, I had to do things I can't talk about. I can never be a normal person.”says Shaima. “They absolutely want to vote on the amendment before even having written the text. This is a first in the history of the country.laments Athraa Al Hassani, Iraqi lawyer and director of the Model Iraqi Women organization, on a daily basis. “Iraq is a civilized state and it cannot be otherwise. The first female minister in Arab countries was Iraqi and the first female judge was Iraqi.she told Human Rights Watch. “We aspire to progress, not regression”she concluded.

Last August, a demonstration took place in the streets of Baghdad after the announcement of this proposed law. Last April, the coalition made same-sex relations punishable by up to 15 years in prison.