[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.

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