Iraqi Women Face New Legal Threats as Parliament Moves to Reinstate Extremist Sharia Laws
In a troubling development for women’s rights in Iraq, the Iraqi Parliament has announced its intention to implement amendments to Civil Status laws under pressure from extremist religious groups. These changes, which pertain to custody, marriage, and inheritance laws, threaten to roll back decades of progress by reverting from civil laws to extremist interpretations of Sharia law.
The proposed amendments represent a severe regression for women’s rights, pushing them towards what critics are calling a return to the “dark ages.” Key changes include:
- Lowering the Legal Age of Marriage: The proposed amendments would allow girls to be married off at just nine years old.
- Inheritance Restrictions: Women would be prevented from acquiring real estate through inheritance, further limiting their economic independence.
- Custody Rights: Mothers would lose the right to custody of their children at the age of seven, stripping them of their maternal rights.
- Travel Restrictions: Women would be required to obtain consent from a male relative in order to travel, severely curtailing their freedom of movement.
In response to these alarming developments, the Iraqi Coordinations Organisation has initiated a coalition named “The 188 Alliance,” uniting various feminist groups to oppose the amendments. The alliance organizes protests, campaigns, and educational seminars to raise awareness and mobilize public opposition to these draconian changes.
The Iraqi Coordination of the World March of Women has also called for all women’s rights defenders worldwide to stand in solidarity with Iraqi women, urging them to share the news and support the campaigns. The situation remains fluid, and the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the fate of women’s rights in Iraq.