Iraqi women lawmakers form group to oppose controversial Personal Status Law amendment

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Some women lawmakers in Iraq have formed a coalition against the passage of the Personal Status Law amendment.

This group includes members from various factions and aims to protect the order of the Iraqi family.

Despite the first reading of the amendment being postponed, some Shiite factions remain determined to push the issue through parliament soon, irrespective of the widespread reactions.

Iraqi MP Noor Nafea al-Julihawi stated that the parliamentary group consists of women from different factions who reject the amendment based on legal, religious, professional, and social grounds.

"The group wants to make it clear to everyone that the rejection is not based on emotions or external motives, but on legal, religious, professional, and social considerations and people who are concerned about protecting the order of the Iraqi family," she said.

The proposed amendment to the law includes provisions that allow Iraqi men and women to choose their religion upon marriage. For instance, if the Jaafari sect is considered, girls could be married at the age of nine and boys at the age of 15.

Civil society organizations and activists, especially women, have expressed serious concerns, calling the passage of the law dangerous and arguing that the amendments would further divide Iraq.