Global Outrage: UN Condemns Iraq’s Controversial Bill To Allow Child Marriage

Global Outrage: UN Condemns Iraq’s Controversial Bill To Allow Child Marriage

The United Nations has condemned a controversial bill proposed by the Iraqi Parliament that seeks to lower the legal marriage age for girls from 18 to just 9 years old. Amina Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, labeled….CONTINUE READING…

the bill as an “assault on childhood,” stressing that girls are children who deserve protection and the right to grow up with dignity.

In a statement released on Monday, Mohammed emphasized that “girls are not spouses,” urging that they should be allowed to mature with their rights and safety safeguarded. The bill, which passed its first reading last week, has sparked widespread protests from women’s rights groups, who argue it would grant religious authorities significant control over family matters, including marriage, divorce, and child welfare.

Raya Faiq, a leader in the protests, described the proposed law as a “catastrophe for women,” highlighting the potential for it to enable child marriage, even to the extent of legalizing the marriage of future generations. Faiq condemned the bill for essentially legalizing child rape, saying it would strip families of their ability to object to such unions.