Underage outcry forces a Bill relook

Iraq's parliament reviewed contentious legal amendments yesterday, including a reworked family law Bill that has sparked civil society outrage over fears of a resurgence in underage marriages.

The proposed amendments would let people choose between religious or state regulations 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 the consent of legal guardians and a judge - and pave the way for the adoption of Islamic jurisprudence that could allow marriages as young as nine years old.