religious pedophile law in Iraq Already 10 years ago, Iraq was about to lower the age limit for marriage. SVT then met Zeinab, who was married off as a 12-year-old. See the attention-grabbing report from 2014 in the video. Photo: Niclas Berglund
Child marriage may be legalized in Iraq - ultra-conservative parties have a majority
Published yesterday 19:56
- It is a serious and very strong setback for women's and children's rights in Iraq, says Professor Mohammad Fazlhashemi.
If the bill becomes a reality, it will tear up several rights for women in Iraq. In addition to child marriage, women would be denied the right to divorce, custody of children and inheritance. These rights have existed in Iraqi society since 1959.
It is not the first time that conservative religious forces have tried to dismantle the legislation. In both 2014 and 2017, the proposal was stopped by civil society and other parties. But now the ultra-conservative parties have a strong parliamentary position as the ruling parties are dependent on their support.
- The ultra-conservative forces push these issues to advance their positions. They know that the government's survival is based on their support, says Mohammad Fazlhashemi, professor of Islamic theology at Uppsala University.
"A serious assault"
The bill is presented as freedom of religion; that Sunni and Shia Muslims should be allowed to choose which legislation they want to follow: Sunni or Shia.
- But in practice this is a serious abuse of women's and children's rights, says Fazlhashemi.
It is within the ultra-conservative Shiite interpretation that child marriage should be allowed.
- It is based on previous interpretations that go back approximately 1,000 years. In Bedouin societies, child marriage was allowed and it is from this that these legal interpreters built their interpretations, says Mohammad Fazlhashemi.
The bill is political and is not representative of the entire Shia Muslim religious tradition, where it has met with criticism, Fazlhashemi believes.
- Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has opposed child marriage, says the professor.
- It is only from a patriarchal and misogynistic perspective that one can arrive at such an opinion. There is nothing else that can explain this.
Legalization of child marriage can be voted through at any time, writes The Telegraph.
Marry the thirteen-year-old Zeinab
When the proposal was put forward in 2014, SVT's Middle East correspondent Samir Abu Eid met thirteen-year-old Zeinab in Iraq. She came from a poor family and was married off for the equivalent of SEK 12,000 when she was twelve years old.
- I have no dreams, says Zeinab to SVT's correspondent.
The TV report led to strong reactions in Sweden when it was broadcast in April 2014. See the report in the player above.
child marriage is a crime against children
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