A storm of reactions has erupted from lawmakers and organizations in Iraq following the passage of a law that allows child marriages from the age of nine. Activists have strongly criticized the law, stating that it amounts to the “legalization of child rape.”

According to the new law, which was approved yesterday, religious authorities have been granted the power to decide on family matters, including marriage, divorce, and child custody. This law abolishes the ban on marriage for individuals under the age of 18, a restriction that had been in place since the 1950s.

“We’ve reached the end of women’s and children’s rights in Iraq,” stated lawyer Mohammed Juma, one of the law’s staunchest critics, as reported by The Guardian.

Iraqi journalist Saja Hashim voiced her concern, saying: “The fact that clerics are deciding the fate of women is terrifying. I fear for what lies ahead in my life as a woman.”

Activists warn that the law could be applied retroactively to cases pending in court, potentially affecting rights such as alimony and child custody. Child marriage has long been an issue in Iraq, where 28% of girls were married before the age of 18, according to a 2023 UN report.

Independent Member of Parliament Sajjad Salem declared: “Iraq has never known such degradation and dishonor as what we are experiencing today.”

Meanwhile, Alia Nassif, a member of the parliamentary legal committee, claimed in a statement that the vote took place without the minimum number of lawmakers required. She announced her intention to appeal the decision to Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court.