A shocking new proposal in Iraq aims to drastically reduce the legal age of consent to just nine years old, sparking outrage from activists who argue it would legalize child rape. The proposed law, backed by ultra-conservative Shia Muslim parties, seeks to overhaul the country’s “personal status law,” slashing the age of consent from 18 to nine.
The move, part of a broader attempt to amend the nation’s legal framework, would not only rollback women’s rights—including divorce, child custody, and inheritance—but also repeal one of the Middle East’s most progressive laws. This change, first announced in August 2024, has drawn sharp criticism from women’s rights groups, who have previously blocked similar efforts in 2014 and 2017.
In a move seen as an attempt to align Iraq’s laws more closely with a strict interpretation of Islamic law, government officials have argued that the law would protect young girls from “immoral relationships.” However, activists see it as a disastrous setback for women’s rights.
Raya Faiq, who leads a coalition opposing the bill, described the proposal as a “catastrophe for women,” and warned that it could allow families to marry off young girls, even as young as nine, without objection. “This law legalizes child rape,” Faiq said.
The bill passed its second reading in Iraq’s parliament in September 2024, with the Shia coalition pushing for its approval. Dr. Renad Mansour of Chatham House noted that this is the closest the bill has ever come to becoming law, citing the increasing momentum provided by the ruling Shia parties. However, he added that not all Shia factions are fully behind it, as some parties aim to strengthen their ideological legitimacy.
Activists are now in a race against time to stop the law, fearing that its approval would be a devastating blow for women’s rights in Iraq.
