The Government of Iraq is processing a bill that would allow the marriage of girls from 9 years olda decision that has put women’s rights activists on alert, saying it would “legalize child rape.”
As stated Guardian, The Shiite religious groups that dominate the political system in Iraq have been pushing for erode women’s rights in the country for more than a decade.
Unlike its neighbor Saudi Arabia, Iraq does not have a male guardianship system that requires women to have the permission from a husband, father or male guardian to make crucial decisions in life, such as marriage.
However, a new proposal would give religious authorities the power to decide on family matters, including marriage, Divorce and childcare.
“This is a catastrophe for women”said Raya Faiq, coordinator of a coalition of groups opposing the law change that includes some Iraqi parliamentarians.
“My husband and my family are opposed to child marriage. But imagine if my daughter got married and my daughter’s husband wanted to marry my granddaughter off when she was a child. The new law would allow him to do that. I couldn’t oppose it. This law legalizes child rape“, he maintains.
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