Iraq Considers Marrying Girls As Young As 8, Wives Must Submit To Husband’s Sexual Demands

Under current law, the legal age for marriage in Iraq is 18, or 15 with a guardian’s approval, but that could all change very soon. As reported by Daily Mail, a new law being considered in Iraq could lead to men marrying girls as young as eight and wives having to submit to sex at their husband’s every request.

While the proposed measure, known as the Jaafari Personal Status Law, actually does not have a stipulated minimum age for marriage, rules regarding divorce for girls as young as eight are included. Could this mean that men could marry girls even younger than 8 if the law comes to pass? Or did the authors of the bill slip the age into the divorce section as a backhanded way to allow marriages of girls that young?

Marriage of minors in Iraq has been steadily increasing over the last couple decades. According to government statistics, nearly 25 percent of the marriages in Iraq in 2011, involved someone under the age of 18. Compare this to 21 percent in 2001 and 15 percent in 1997, and one can see a rising trend.

Underage marriage is not the only concern with this proposed bill, as it also strips women of many rights. With the father being the only parent with the right to accept or refuse the marriage proposal, mothers will have no voice to protect their daughters. Another disturbing proponent of the proposed measure withdraws a wife’s ability to decide if she wants to have sex with her husband. Under the proposed measure, a husband can have sex with his wife without her consent.

The violations of women’s rights under the proposed measure don’t stop there. The bill also prevents women from leaving the house without their husband’s permission, would restrict women’s rights to parental custody after divorce, and makes it easier for men to take multiple wives.

As one would and should expect, the controversial proposals have provoked outrage from activists both within Iraq and around the globe, who see it as a huge step backwards for women’s rights. According to Iraqi human rights activist Hana Adwar, ‘That law represents a crime against humanity and childhood. Married underage girls are subjected to physical and psychological suffering.’

Unfortunately, the outrage, controversy, and criticisms have yet to stop this bill from moving forward. The law, based on the principles of a Shiite school of religious law founded by Jaafar al-Sadiq, was introduced to the Cabinet as a draft measure by Iraq’s Justice Ministry. It was approved despite strong opposition by human rights campaigners. Parliament must still ratify the bill before it becomes law.

With reported stories of 8-year-old child brides dying from internal bleeding on their wedding night after their adult husbands have intercourse with them, how can anyone in their right mind support this bill?

IN FAITH, NEWS, OPINION / BY CHRISTY LEE PARKER / ON MARCH 16, 2014 AT 2:19 PM /