Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has pledged to address the concerns raised by the Higher Council for Women’s Affairs regarding proposed changes to the Personal Status Law, which have sparked widespread criticism from civil society groups.
The amendments, which include provisions allowing child marriages and restricting a wife’s right to alimony and custody, have been condemned by human rights advocates across Iraq. The proposed changes also suggest replacing current laws with religious texts from various sects as the basis for legal decisions, a move seen as regressive by many.
Speaking at a conference on Saturday focused on combating violence against women, al-Sudani emphasized the importance of women in his administration, highlighting the inclusion of three female ministers, two deputy ministers, 111 women as general directors, and 47 assistant general directors.
He also announced the establishment of the Higher Council for Women’s Affairs, tasked with overseeing women’s development and reviewing the contentious amendments to the Personal Status Law.
Al-Sudani further noted ongoing efforts to reduce female illiteracy, which stood at 17% two years ago.
Former Iraqi MP Ala Talabani, a vocal critic of the changes to the Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959, welcomed the call by Ammar al-Hakim, head of the National Wisdom Movement, for a more thorough review and alignment with modern standards, describing it as a “positive and important” step. Talabani cautioned that the current draft could lead to significant violations of women’s rights.
Claudio Cordone, Deputy Representative of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), commended the Iraqi government’s efforts to combat violence against women and advance their rights, praising al-Sudani for urging swift government action on women’s issues.
Despite these assurances, Iraqi intellectuals and activists have voiced strong objections to the amendments, particularly those lowering the marriage age for girls to as young as nine, permitting marriage contracts outside of court, and undermining the rights of divorced women and child custody arrangements.
In the city of Najaf, activists took to the streets in protest but were met with resistance from religious leaders and tribal figures. The situation escalated, prompting police intervention to separate the opposing groups.
