[Field Story] Iraq pushes to allow marriage at age 9... Women protest against legalization of child rape

In Iraq, the women's community is strongly opposed to a bill being revised to allow girls as young as 9 to get married. Women's rights activists opposed the amendment, saying it would be used to legalize child rape.

British daily Guardian, AFP news agency, etc. Reported on the 9th ( local time ) that an amendment to the bill granting religious authorities the authority to decide on family issues such as marriage, divorce , and child rearing passed the first round of consideration in the Iraqi parliament this week.

 According to foreign media, unlike neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia, there is no system in Iraq that requires women to obtain permission from a male guardian when making important choices such as marriage. However, marriage under the age of 18 is prohibited under the Personal Status Act introduced in 1959.

Decision-making authority on family matters is also vested in the state and judiciary, not religious authorities. Once you turn 15, you can submit a marriage application, but it can only be approved with the consent of a legal guardian if a judge deems it absolutely necessary.

However, the amendment being promoted this time is to allow religious authorities to play this role. Accordingly, the women's community is voicing concerns that if religious leaders permit marriage without the judgment of judicial authorities, girls as young as 9 years old will be forced into marriage.

Protests against the amendment are currently taking place in the capital Baghdad and other regions, and 25 women are also trying to block the amendment, but the situation is not easy. Alia Nassif, an Iraqi female lawmaker, said, “Unfortunately, a male who supports this law asks what's wrong with marrying a minor.”

“ Women’s role has grown since the massive anti-government protest in 2019, and political forces see this as a threat to their power and status and have begun to oppress them ,” said Nadia Mahmoud , co-founder of the Iraq-based Aman Women’s Coalition . In Iraq , Shiite Islam dominates the political system . According to a survey by the United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF ), 28% of Iraqi women were married before the age of 18.

Source: The JoongAng

 “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” (Psalm 16:1-2)

A proposed law in Iraq that would allow girls as young as nine to marry has sparked a strong backlash from women's groups. Women's rights activists say the amendment will be used to legalize child rape.

Iraq has long banned marriage under the age of 18, but the proposed amendment would allow religious authorities to license marriages without judicial review.

God, we pray that the women of Iraq will encounter the living God and flee to You, that they will confess that “You are my Lord and that in You alone is my blessing”.

Satan, the enemy of women, is manipulating to oppress women so that they will not rise up against him and lead Iraq to destruction.

Please allow the truth of Yeshua to be preached freely in Iraq, where people are ignorant of the only Savior, Yeshua, and are committing horrible acts of wickedness.

As the days of your return is near, Lord, may Iraq rise up as a follower of Yeshua, out of falsehood and disorder, and bear witness to Yeshua of truth and true freedom to many nations who are enslaved to falsehood!