Iraqi Court Suspends Controversial Laws, Including Measure Critics Say Undermines Women’s Rights

Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court has temporarily halted the implementation of three contentious laws passed by parliament last month, including a controversial amendment to the country’s personal status law that has sparked concerns among women’s rights activists, The Associated Press reports.

The court’s decision follows a complaint filed by several members of parliament, arguing that the voting process for the three bills was unlawful. The complaint alleges that all three measures – each backed by different political factions – were improperly voted on collectively rather than individually.

The most fiercely debated law is an amendment to Iraq’s personal status law, which critics fear will significantly weaken women’s rights by granting Islamic courts greater authority over family matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Women’s rights advocates argue that the changes erode previous reforms that established a unified family law and provided safeguards for women.

While proponents, primarily conservative Shiite lawmakers, claim the amendments align the law with Islamic principles and reduce Western influence on Iraqi culture, opponents contend that it could potentially open the door to child marriage. Previous versions of the bill had raised alarm due to interpretations of Islamic law that permit the marriage of young girls. Although the final version stipulates that both parties must be “adults,” it lacks a specific definition of adulthood, leaving room for potential exploitation.

The court order also suspended two other bills:

• A General Amnesty Law: This law, intended to benefit Sunni detainees, has raised concerns that it could lead to the release of individuals involved in public corruption, embezzlement, and even militants who committed war crimes.
• A Law on Confiscated Kurdish Lands: This measure aims to return land confiscated from Kurds under Saddam Hussein’s regime. However, it faces opposition from some Arab groups, who fear it could lead to the displacement of current Arab residents.

The Federal Supreme Court’s suspension of these laws will remain in effect until the court adjudicates the legal challenge to their passage.