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A new bill in Iraq seeks to lower the legal marriage age to nine for girls and 15 for boys.
Human rights groups fear the bill will increase child marriages, reversing gains in women’s rights and gender equality.
Lowering the marriage age could harm girls' education, health, and well-being, leading to early pregnancies and domestic violence.
Human Rights Watch’s Sarah Sanbar condemns the bill, stating it represents a backward step for the country’s progress.
The bill allows choosing between religious authorities or civil courts for family matters, risking erosion of inheritance and custody rights.
The bill, initially withdrawn, reappeared in August with Shia bloc support, requiring couples to select between Sunni or Shia sects.