Iraq's Controversial Law Proposal: Lowering Age of Consent to Nine

A proposed law in Iraq, backed by Shia groups, seeks to lower the age of consent for girls from 18 to 9, effectively legalizing child marriage and sparking widespread protests. The law, which allows religious authorities to conduct marriages, has faced strong opposition from women's rights activists and some female MPs, who argue it would severely undermine women's rights and legalize child rape. Despite protests and efforts to block the law, male-dominated political support has pushed it closer to approval, raising concerns about the future of women's rights in Iraq.