Iraq bill could open the door to girls as young as nine getting married

[DonViejo]

Iraqi bill to legalize child marriage criticized
By SAMEER N. YACOUB and SINAN SALAHEDDIN, Associated Press
Updated 5:50 am, Friday, March 14, 2014

BAGHDAD (AP) — A contentious draft law being considered in Iraq could open the door to girls as young as nine getting married and would require wives to submit to sex on their husband's whim, provoking outrage from rights activists and many Iraqis who see it as a step backward for women's rights.

The measure, aimed at creating different laws for Iraq's majority Shiite population, could further fray the country's divisions amid some of the worst bloodshed since the sectarian fighting that nearly ripped the country apart after the U.S.-led invasion. It also comes as more and more children under 18 get married in the country.

"That law represents a crime against humanity and childhood," prominent Iraqi human rights activist Hana Adwar told The Associated Press. "Married underage girls are subjected to physical and psychological suffering.

Iraqi law now sets the legal age for marriage at 18 without parental approval. Girls as young as 15 can be married only with a guardian's approval.

The proposed new measure, known as the Jaafari Personal Status Law, is based on the principles of a Shiite school of religious law founded by Jaafar al-Sadiq, the sixth Shiite imam. Iraq's Justice Ministry late last year introduced the draft measure to the Cabinet, which approved it last month despite strong opposition by rights groups and activists.

The draft law does not set a minimum age for marriage. Instead, it mentions an age in a section on divorce, setting rules for divorces of girls who have reached the age of 9 years in the lunar Islamic calendar. It also says that's the age girls reach puberty. Since the Islamic calendar year is 10 or 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, that would be the equivalent of 8 years and 8 months old. The bill makes the father the only parent with the right to accept or refuse the marriage proposal.

more
http://www.sfgate.com/news/world/article/Iraqi-bill-to-legalize-child-marriage-criticized-5316674.php

[seveneyes]

1. Religious law rears its ugly head once again

Society will need to get these kinds of religions into check eventually. It may prove to be a challenge since many children are taught from an early age that their religion is the most important aspect of their lives. Some are taught to kill in defense of any slights against their religion. Some followers of such a religion even go on to kill many innocents in the name of their religion.

And many followers of their religion will kill innocents in their attempt to make their religion the law of the land. The problem appears to be getting worse in some areas. We can only hope that suicidal followers do not get access to weapons of mass destruction.

[jakeXT]

3. Mission Accomplished /nt