News that Iraq is preparing a bill to allow men to marry young children by lowering the marriageable age for women to nine has led to strong criticism.
According to foreign media reports such as the British Daily Telegraph, the coalition of conservative Shiite parties that control Iraq's parliament is recently pushing for a revision of the "Family Act" to lower the legal marriage age of women from 18 to 9.
The Shiite Answer Coalition explained that the move was aimed at protecting young girls from "unscrupulous relationships," but Iraqi human rights groups are campaigning against it, saying, "This law legalizes child rape."
Human rights groups have pointed out that the new legislation will expose young girls to sexual violence and physical violence, as well as prevent them from being properly educated.
In addition, critics say that the bill "will deprive women of all options" as it deals with the complete abolition of women's child custody, freedom of divorce and property inheritance rights.
The Shiite coalition has attempted to revise the "family law" twice in the past, but it has failed due to opposition from Iraqi women.
Currently, 25 female lawmakers are struggling to prevent a second vote in the parliament, but it is difficult to prevent the passage of the amendment because the Shiite party coalition has a majority in the parliament.
Reporter Lee Yu Na from Digital News Team.
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