Iraq law could lower a girl’s age of consent from 18 to 9

Young girls in Iraq who are years away from becoming teenagers could be forced to become wives if a new Shia-backed law passes. The new law would lower a girl’s consent from 18 to age 9.

This includes allowing parents to have arranged marriages for their young daughters.

Iraq doesn’t have a male guardianship system that requires a female to have the permission of a husband, father or other male guardian to make crucial life decisions — like marriage. The law would also allow religious authorities to carry out marriages.

The proposed law that’s on its second way through the Parliamentary Government has been opposed by women in the Members of Parliament (MP) and activist groups, according to the Guardian.

“This is a catastrophe for women,” said Raya Faiq, the coordinator for a coalition of groups opposing the law change, which also includes some Iraqi MPs.

“My husband and my family oppose child marriage. But imagine if my daughter gets married and my daughter’s husband wants to marry off my granddaughter as a child. The new law would allow him to do so. I would not be allowed to object. This law legalises child rape.”

The new law would bring back a Taliban-style of slashing women’s rights. (Fox News)

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