▸ It will soon be legal to have sex with 9-year-olds, after the Iraqi government intends to lower the minimum age for sex from 18 to 9 years. The reason is that it should “protect young girls against immoral relationships”, something which the government believes is in line with the strict interpretation of Islamic law. Iraq’s Shia Muslim parliament has several times taken a position on the proposal to lower the minimum sexual age to nine years, but has not been able to vote it through. Now they have gathered the required majority, reports The Telegraph. But it will also be forbidden for women to request a divorce, receive an inheritance and have custody of children. In social media, the government is accused of legalizing child rape and experts warn that the law will take away women’s rights in the country. There is also concern that the changes will lead to Iraq trying to introduce governance similar to that in Iran and Afghanistan.
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Iraq’s bill: Sex with nine-year-olds
