BAGHDAD: Iraq’s parliament postponed until Monday voting on controversial legal amendments, including a new family law bill that had sparked public outrage over fears of a resurgence of child marriages.
Parliament’s communications department said a session dedicated to the legislation scheduled for Sunday could not go ahead and would now be held the following day.
The proposed amendments would allow people to choose between religious or state rules for family matters, such as marriage, inheritance, divorce and child custody.
Critics fear the move could erode protections for Muslim women by lowering the legal age for marriage — currently set at 18 or 15 with consent of legal guardians and a judge — and undermine Islamic jurisprudence. can pave the way for adoption that can allow Marrying girls below nine years of age.
A revised version of the bill sets the minimum age at 15 with court approval and maintains the “current situation,” according to Raed al-Maliki, a member of parliament who supported the new proposals.
Couples can choose either Shia or Sunni Muslim laws under the amendment.
If approved, clerics and lawyers will have four months to establish community-specific regulations. Parliament will then vote again to finalize the changes.