Iraq is all set to pass a new law in the country, according to which children under nine could be married legally and the wives will be forced to fulfill the sexual demands under this tabled legislation. The new legislation tabled on 8th April this has introduced new restrictions on women’s rights on the basis of religion.

With elections in the country, the Iraqi parliament is looking forward to pass the new marital policies to secure their vote bank in which majority are of Shia community. The law has been drafted and is criticized highly by human rights activists. The activists have called this law as “Legalized Inequality”.

The current law for marriage is 18 year without the approval from parents and a girl aged 15 can also be married but by the permission of parent or guardian. But the new legislation known as the Jaafari Law, will introduce rules which Shia dominated region want just like the neighboring country Iran.

The ex Prime Minister of Iraq, Ayad Allwai on Tuesday warned the people that if the law gets approved it will lead to abuse of women. “It allows for girls to be married from nine years of age and even younger,” he said. “There are other injustices [contained in it] too.” With no minimum age for the marriage, the rules of divorce will be implied on the girls who have reached 9 years in age.

With the clause like women must comply with their husband’s sexual demands will increase the number of marital rape. Also men will be given the guardianship of the women and also the rules of polygamous relationship will be applied.

Head of charity Al-Amal (means ‘Hope’ in Arabic) and activist, Hanaa Edwar, is strongly campaigning against the law. She says “It turns women into tools for sexual enjoyment, and it deletes all their rights.”

Human Rights Watch, has send a plea to Iraq Government to abandon the new legislation. “Iraq is in conflict and undergoing a breakdown of the rule of law,” Basma al-Khateeb, a women’s rights activist, said in a Human Rights Watch report. “The passage of the Jaafari law sets the ground for legalised inequality.”

Shiite Muslim School of jurisprudence is supporting the draft and says it is just the legalization of the practices those already exist in the real world. Ever since Saddam Hussein was overthrown in 2003 the number of under 18s getting married has been increased said the officials.