International
Critics say new law in Iraq could legalize child marriage
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)
Iraq’s parliament added controversial amendments to one of the country’s laws on Tuesday, Jan. 22, which critics say will effectively make child marriage legal. The amendments give Islamic courts more authority over family matters, including marriage, divorce and inheritance.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 39%
Center 22%
Right 39%
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Far
Right
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Click to close
50 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
50
Leaning Left
9
Center
5
Leaning Right
9
Last Updated
1 month ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Critics say it undermines Iraq’s 1959 personal status law, which unified family law and established safeguards for women.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
Right now, the minimum age of marriage in Iraq is 18 in most cases. The changes would let clerics rule on the subject according to their own interpretation of Islamic law. Some denominations interpret such law to allow girls as young as nine years old to be married.
Supporters of the new legislation say it’s a way to align Iraq’s laws with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence.
[Craig Nigrelli]
IRAQ’S PARLIAMENT PASSED CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENTS TO ONE OF ITS LAWS TUESDAY – WHICH CRITICS SAY WILL EFFECTIVELY MAKE CHILD MARRIAGE LEGAL.
THE AMENDMENTS GIVE ISLAMIC COURTS MORE AUTHORITY OVER FAMILY MATTERS, INCLUDING MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND INHERITANCE.
CRITICS SAY IT UNDERMINES IRAQ’S 19-59 PERSONAL STATUS LAW – WHICH UNIFIED FAMILY LAW AND ESTABLISHED SAFEGUARDS FOR WOMEN.
RIGHT NOW, THE MINIMUM AGE OF MARRIAGE IN IRAQ IS 18 IN MOST CASES.
THE CHANGES WOULD LET CLERICS RULE ACCORDING TO **THEIR INTERPRETATION** OF ISLAMIC LAW.
SOME DENOMINATIONS INTERPRET IT TO ALLOW GIRLS AS YOUNG AS NINE YEARS OLD TO BE MARRIED.
SUPPORTERS OF THE LAW SAY IT’S A WAY ALIGN IRAQ’S LAWS WITH ISLAMIC PRINCIPLES AND REDUCE WESTERN INFLUENCE.
FOR MORE OF YOUR LATEST INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.
Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn more
Left 39%
Center 22%
Right 39%
Bias Distribution
Far
Left
Left
+0
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Click to close
Far
Right
Right
+0
Click to close
Untracked Bias
Click to close
50 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
50
Leaning Left
9
Center
5
Leaning Right
9
Last Updated
1 month ago
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Getty Images
Judge allows CNN lawsuit potentially worth billions to continue
Read16 hrs ago -
Reuters
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s the first video of Alef Aeronautics’ flying car
Watch 2:1317 hrs ago -
Getty Images
Democrats in Congress receive lowest approval rating in Quinnipiac poll history
Watch 2:5918 hrs ago -
Getty Images
AG Bondi reviewing Epstein documents for release, could hold client list
Watch 1:4819 hrs ago
